Lungnila, Hubert, Martin… when will the count come to an end? Or are we committed to sincerely endeavour to put an end to such crimes which claimed these innocent lives. This is a question everybody in Manipur has to answer, including the underground organisations. The response and commitment of the latter has become all the more significant in the context of unfolding information on Lungnila earlier and now Martin and Hubert.

The Context: Before I express my own (I mean it in a very possessive sense) opinion on what should be done now, let me mention three contexts of utmost significance.

First, we have the larger Asian-Indian context. I have just been sent a copy of the final report of the Asian Development Bank on trade and investment in the North East. Reading this report and looking at the recent initiatives of the Indian government, one thing clearly comes to my mind. Soon we may no longer get the opportunity of blaming on lack on investment on development in the region. But my fear is that all this is going to happen in a very mechanical way, and we have not just applied our mind to our own needed preparations. The maximum burden of adjustment is going to be borne by the mountain people of Manipur. Our people in the mountains have by circumstances and agents been forced to engage for far too long in political mobilisations for political purposes. The greatest casualty of this mobilisation has been the scientific and technological preparation of the mountains to capitalise on the oncoming challenges.

Secondly, Manipur’s is a society with an ethos aggressively and virtuously protecting tenderness and innocence. But quite unfortunately there now seems to be a collusive attack on this societal consciousness. Even more unfortunately, some underground organisations seem to be giving a cover to this if not directly involved; at least there appears to be signs of giving protection to the attackers.

Thirdly, there is the question of which society we aim for. A group indulges in anti-state movements promising a better society where there will be respect for universally accepted social ethos and protection of the innocent. It is in the interest of the underground organisations themselves that their movements do not violate certain minimum norms of the society for otherwise they would be just inheriting an ungovernable society even if they succeed. In this scenario, they would succeed but to fail.

Hubert and Martin: It is in the above context that I would like to evaluate the options on handling the Martin and Hubert killing episode. It is now admitted that the main culprits are in the custody of an underground organisation. It is also established that the society is not prepared to let this episode go the Lungnila way. In this context, I strongly feel that the culprits should be handed over to the State Police, and I have reasons for saying so.

My first reason is that the clarification of this organisation on the death of progress into Lungnila enquiry just does not hold any water. While there are areas where they should try to vigorously establish their sway, there are still areas where it is in everybody’s interest to yield space to the state agency. The only proper way, given the present context and realities, is that the state should be allowed to take the case to its logical end.

Secondly, the question arises as to what would have been the case if the dead bodies of the two boys were not discovered at all. It is only after the discovery and public outcry that the organisation started responding.

Thirdly, bad as the state is, we have remedies to redress the wrongs of the state; we can always appeal to the court of law if not satisfied with the state’s actions. But we do not have any such remedy if the organisation fails to act or acts to our dissatisfaction.

Fourthly, the state definitely would have a more perfect judicial process than the organisation. So it is in the fitness of things that the culprits are handed over to the state instead of being subject to the organisation’s non-transparent process of enquiry.

Fifth, the social impact of the case would be greater if it is handled by the judiciary of the state than by the organisation. If the culprits are handed over to the State Police for necessary judicial process, it would give the signal to all that no criminal would escape law even if he runs into the underground organisations for help.

Sixth, since the criminals had not been delivered the RPF-style justice, anything the organisation does to the criminals now would be in cold-blood. This would be unfair again.

Seventh, if the criminals are handed over to the State Police, the organisation would redeem some of the credibility it has lost in Lungnila case.

The Bottom-line: In the end, we must put it emphatically that the power acquired through freedom and nationalistic movements cannot be equated with the capacity to provide unhindered protection to criminals. Our single attention should now be on preparing the mountains for the forthcoming deluge of economic opportunities consequent upon opening up. While the valley is scientifically and technologically more prepared, we cannot and should not allow the mountains to be swept away. The battle is now economic, and definitely not political.