Manipur - A fail state

Joel Mangboi Haokip *

The state of Manipur refuses to escape the throes of socio-political crisis developed and sustained throughout the history since its formation as federal state of India. News of fake 'Killing, bandh, strike, eco-blockade' has repeatedly hitting the headlines. The state government feeling the heat of militancy's threat is trying its best to expand its influence throughout the state by deploying tight security forces in every nook and corner.

Very few know that Manipur located in the easternmost of India was once called 'the Switzerland of India'. But now everything has changed for the worse and today it is the state gripped by anarchy, terror, destruction and havoc all around. One would always find a galaxy of camouflage-clad platoons with automatic assault rifles ever-ready to trigger off the muzzles in anytime all over the state.

In such an environment, it is obvious to curtail the smooth functioning of lives as one has to undergo inspection along many security check post. Sometimes a mere suspicion could lead to prolonged detain or harsh treatment. The worse is custodial killing or fake encounter. This is one of the many ordeals of life in Manipur.

In another case, the ground of communal hatred and identity continues to be strengthened and bolstered by interplay of factors which seem to lie beyond the control of political authority of the state. For the last 37 years since its statehood, the democratic culture was not allowed to take root due to repetitive resurgence of militancy.

Each successive rule of elected governments undermined the capacity of the state to function as a viable entity. Retrograde social forces overshadowed the functioning of various institutions of the state. The irony is that the individual personalities and socio-communal groups have continued to enhance their power at the cost of the authority whose capacity to manage its mandate continued to weaken gradually and steadily.

The political system of Manipur is characterized by inherent and functional contradictions and its limited capacity to penetrate in to the social space. Until recently, The Assam Rifles and Paramilitary forces deploying in the state were known for its perpetual human Rights violation. Therefore, head loads of custodial Killings, fake encounters and other kinds of human rights infringement has been in the news.

But it becomes a gradual decline from their part. However, the state police commandos and IRB's starts unfurling immense terror intimidation of late especially in the valley area. The latest episode of BT road carnage in Imphal in which, an ex-militant and a pregnant woman were killed, have sent a wave of widespread public angers and protest throughout the valley. Thus, it has once again bringing a grinding halt to the daily activities.

Though numerous cases of alleged fake encounter had occurred in the past, the burning issue this time is, probably for the first time, the chief minister came under pressure to be deposed from his power owning moral responsibility for the BT road incident. Things go out of proportion with the CM earlier remarks that, 'there is no alternative to killing' which subsequently has sparked public furore. The aggravating situation got worsened when the tehelka weekly news expose the sequence of murder with photograph.

However, later the CM refutes and blames the media for misinterpreting his remarks. But with the inexorable rage of public writ large, the CM and his unsavory commandos calls for truce and reconciliation with the protesters did not came to their rescue. The influential Apunba Lup (conglomeration of various social organizations) intensified its various kinds of protest amid raising its charters of demand.

The situation has been so tense that the entire Imphal valley has been under indefinite curfew since the case come up on July 23. Despite the CM promises for setting up judicial enquiry into the incident, the protesters did not budge from their position and demanded that either the CM be resigned or President rule be imposed in the state apart from penalizing the culprits.

There's a popular saying that, truth cannot hide long' and this probably may well have been exemplified by the latest exposure. It is apparent now that whatsoever may be the case, the recent development is nothing short of a setback to the SPF ministry. Let us not forget that since Th. Manorama case had come up in 2004, the Armed Forces Special Power Acts (AFSPA) has been relaxed in and around Imphal municipality. But this hasn't either improved or normalizes the situation.

However, the concerned Authorities remain a mute spectator to this development of rampant Human rights infringement. Last year in January, I along with my friend, who is a girl, had intercepted by the ever prying commandos without any reason. After frisking me and found nothing unusual, they detained me for more than half and hour and asked many irrelevant questions. This happens even after I revealed my Identity by showing them my ID-proof.

Only when my friend intervened that did they released me. Thank God! I didn't carry any valuable articles or thick purse otherwise this merely could have led me to another victim of fake encounter. Imagine, had I been alone or with some boys, my fate would have been perilous. The following day newspapers might have abounded with the caption 'militant killed in encounter' and the CM would have busy rather than ascertaining the truth, to accolades his brave soldier and get promoted them in their rank. This is the price they use to it get from innocent lives.

According the to latest statistics of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Manipur is ranked second in terms of human rights violations or Fake killings in India next only to Uttar Pradesh.. But comparing the size and population of the two states, the average is much higher in Manipur. Moreover, the rate has been decline gradually in UP but continues to pouring in Manipur. This trend of human rights violations has refused to cease in Manipur and its time the Central government should intervene to curb this menace.

The state govt. seems lost control over its machineries and it is none other than the general public who suffer most. It is high time we should act fast. The challenges of refurbishing socio-political crisis are substantial and urgent in Manipur. Establishing a stable and viable administration couple with active Human rights watch group and brokering truce with as many insurgency as possible could bring a healthy environment of peace and security.

The key to transformation is to improve governance and increasing productivity and economic growth as these will allow people to enjoy improved standards of living, higher employment and better access to public services.. Besides that, corruption should be dealt with stringent and accountability and transparency of the system should be maintained.

If these recommendations as well as suggestions could be implemented wholeheartedly, I hope it will really pave the way for the fulfillment of much desired right of the people i.e. right to development and also this would curb the insurgency menace as insurgencies are the by-product of poverty and marginalization of some section of the population.

Therefore, instead of playing a blame game which we are always accustomed to, we must pragmatically focus on these sectors.