The speaking skulls : Does 'AFSPA Reality' call for more excavations at sites occupied by security forces including the sacred Kangla?

Seram Neken *

Skeletal remains of 8 persons discovered at construction site at Tombisana High School on 26 Dec 2014 :: Pix - Deepak Oinam

God sees the truth, but waits. Injustice can never be buried for long. After 14 years of the infamous Malom Massacre in November 2000, the judiciary has recently unfolded the 'fake cross-firing' drama designed by the security forces in the aftermath of a bomb blast at Malom. Dismissing claims of the Assam Rifles, the law court ruled for providing monetary compensations to the ten families of the civilian victims killed in the notorious massacre.

In fact, the formal campaign against AFSPA culminated with the Malom Massacre of 2000, which forced the Iron Lady, Irom Sharmila to undergo her fast unto death against the inhuman Act. Even after the Malom incident has been proved as another reality of AFSPA, no twist or turn has been seen on the stand of the political and military authority regarding the movement against the AFSPA in Manipur.

In another notable expose, the Manorama killing of 2004 has also been proved as extra-judicial execution by the security personnel. The Court gave its verdict to compensate the bereaved family of Thangjam Manorama.

Prior to this, the High Court of Manipur had given its verdicts to compensate the victim families whose dear sons had lost their lives in the hands of security forces in the name of counter insurgency operations. In the past few months, the High Court of Manipur has begun to make revelations on a number of controversial and pending 'Fake Encounter' dramas perpetrated by security persons.

As of now, it is well established with evidence that 'security persons kill civilians' in 'fake cross firings'. Even though the monetary compensations provided to the victim families can never recoup the loss of innocent human lives, it is indeed a moral victory against the bête noire, Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958.

Now, at the fag end of the year 2014, before justice knocks the door, the skeletons of the deceased humans have come out for themselves to clear controversies surrounding their tragic deaths. They are no mere human remains, but they are indeed the speaking skulls.

For the time being, nothing has been deciphered on whose skeletons have been dug out. However, certain things have been obvious.

One, the site had earlier been occupied by security forces like the BSF, CRPF and Manipur Police Commandoes.

Two, the burial was done en-mass depicting a possible practice of secret murders in the state during the last 40 years.

Three, reportedly the skulls belong to the period between 17 and 40 years back from today. Co-incidentally, a number of Manipuris remained missing after they had been picked up by security forces during the said period.

Widespread protests were staged against the disappearance of youths in the custody of the security forces. It is for sure that the excavated skulls and skeletons have embodied tragic tales of their being concealed at the very site where security forces were premised.

The unearthing of the skeletons has raised serious queries on the extra-judicial executions perpetrated by the security persons. Before the onset of any enquiry on the human remains, one thing is clear that the involvement of state actors cannot be ruled out, as non-state actors obviously did not have their sway inside the Khwairamband Bazaar.

No one dared to do anything in the citadel of the state without the involvement of the state actors. Anything done inside the premises of the Tombisana High School could have been with the knowledge of the security agencies in the state. Anyway, the state government's decision to handover the investigations to the CBI is welcomed by the people of Manipur.

The series of events exposing the extra-judicial murders perpetrated by the security persons in the name of counter insurgency in Manipur have immensely increased the quantum of trust-deficit on the governance of the state during the last four-five decades.

On the other hand, the heydays of AFSPA have come to an end now, with the concealed tragedies becoming increasingly clear to the eyes and ears of the public. The aggrieved people of Manipur are awaiting the day the human remains speak out their tragic tales. When such revelations come true, the need to excavate other sites like Kangla Fort which were earlier occupied by the security forces will arise.