Will peace ever remain a dream ?

Samarjit Kambam *

Bomb Blast in front of Manipur Sangai Tourism Festival Main Gate :: November 30 2011

Time and again, or shall we say again and again, we the public are tired, really getting tired to hear news of heinous killing of innocent lives in public places in our state which we call Manipur - the 'Sanaleipak'.

As the public are painstakingly healing from the wound of woes of the merciless killings of Rabina and Sanjit's killing incidents on 23 July 2009, the blast near the main Entrance of Sangai Festival 2011 conducted in association with All Manipur Mountaineering and Training Institution(MMTI) held under the Ministry of Tourism, Manipur with the aim of getting attention of tourists even though it is an Unprotected Area for foreigners has given another deeper wound to the public's mind.

While the Manipur Police comprising of CDOs and Manipur Rifles etc., are basking in glory for being recognised by Union Ministry of Home as one of the most disciplined security forces in India for this year. it is a great shame and humiliation in front of the foreigners/tourists who came to witness the Sangai Festival, and some who came to participate in the adventure activities of the festival that the blast occurred right under the very nose of heavily guarded State security forces. One Rickshaw Driver died on the spot and four were seriously injured, which co-incidentally was a day of general strike, otherwise the death toll could have been higher.

The public is totally confused. In fact, the public stands between the devil and the deep sea and ultimately the victims are the losers. The question in the public's mind is 'What purpose will be served by killing innocent people?'. If it were the handiwork of revolutionary group(s), can freedom be earned by taking innocent lives?

To whom shall we the public seek comfort and security? The State Govt? No…, they don't give a damn. As long as the higher officials are safe, security for the common people is totally out of the picture. Redressing the grievances against the government is like pouring water to a stone.

As for the Central Government, all we get as an answer is the step-motherly attitude. The State Government will play its usual old school delaying tactic - 'the issue will slowly fade away with the passage of time'. Where shall we get the correct answer?

The Co-ordination Committee of UG groups announced that none of them was responsible for the blast. Or has the government played the CIA gun culture - killing their own people and framing the crime against their enemies?

There are so many possibilities, so many buts and ifs… that's why the public are always in the dark - not knowing the double crossings, double standards of lawful well as unlawful organisations. The public is standing like an egg between the hammer and the anvil.

If this kind of evil deed is the handiwork of the very system that governs the state of Manipur, then it is better to have a thousand revolutionary groups than to have a single government that kills its own innocent people. Many similar incidents of taking innocent lives have preceded this kind of killing.

Mention may be made of the killings at Malom by security forces(the main reason for the start of Irom Sharmila's 'Fast Till Death' Campaign against AFSPA) and the bomb blast at ISCKON, Tiddim Road where many innocents lost their lives and many maimed for life. Killing in public places is the lowest level, most cruel, barbaric and most degrading human act and it has become a vicious circle in our state.

Inspite of tight security in and around Imphal area and heavy combing operations carried out in every nook and corner of Imphal city, the miscreants could easily infiltrate and performed their wicked life taking fireworks(the ill-fated rickshaw driver was used only as a bait by the pixilated group of humans). The bomb that blasted is also considered an IED(Improvised Explosive Device) which is remote controlled.

And one of the most wonderful thing is that no police personnel gets hurt even though they were as thick as thieves in and at the surrounding areas. There goes the reason for so many questions to arise and so many possibilities of buts and ifs of both lawful authorities and unlawful organisations. It is a known fact that security forces are deployed to save lives but another shocking scenario is the wastage of more than 20 precious minutes which could have saved the life of the rickshaw driver even though both of his limbs were splintered to pieces.

Of course, the craving for informations is quite natural for the police personnel but the questionings could have been carried out inside any available vehicle on the way to the nearest hospital. Isn't it the simplest logical sense and the first priority to save a precious human life?

If the rickshaw driver was taken care with medics without losing that precious of 20 minutes, his life could have been saved however limbless he may be and if he were alive, more information could have been acquired. Or has the police personnel skipped the part of their training that saving innocent lives should be given paramount attention and importance? That Sunday morning blast, even though shrouded by mystery will slowly fade into oblivion. This is Manipur.

The worth of life of a Manipuri is tantamount to that of a livestock, ready to be killed at will at any time and at any place. Once we step out from our homes, only God knows what will happen to us. The level of security of our lives is an absolute ZERO.

One thing all of us should be aware is that the whole system of security in the state is asymmetrical and needs to be restructured. In this situation how will the public carry on with their normal life and perform their normal duties without apprehension, without looking back behind their shoulders.

Won't we ever get to walk on the streets with our heads held high wearing a smile on our face. Won't we ever get the opportunity to take out our children to the park, to the market, or a joint or have a simple lunch at a restaurant without fear and with complete ease and peace of mind? Or are we wrong for getting birth in Manipur the 'Sanaleipak'?.

Are we the people at the wrong place at the wrong time? And for those god-fearing people, who believe in re-birth, is it the share of punishment given by the Almighty for committing murders and heinous crimes in our previous births?

In this scenario, how will the Tourism Industry flourish in our state? The state of Manipur has many things-living or non-living and beautiful places that attract tourists worldwide. Mention may be made of Siroy Lilly and Sangai, the brow antlered deer, the rarest flora and fauna not found in any other part of the world, the Loktak Lake, the biggest fresh water lake in North East India which is a unique lake different from any other fresh water lakes of the world etc. A lot of revenue can be accrued from Tourism Industry in Manipur.

But who will want to visit a Killing Field? Sadly, for Manipur the tourism industry is shrinking and going down to a state of 'Coma' and the faith of the people of Manipur has gone down to a state of "Fullstop".

It may not be wrong to mention that Manipuris are 'First Timers. The Nupi Lal' was the first event the world where only womenfolk of Manipur hid their husbands and children and went out to fight only with wooden clubs, stones and knives against the rifle-donning British and many sacrificed themselves.

"Mera Paibis" - women with lighted torch vigilantly guarding and patrolling the streets at night to avoid any untoward incident or any crime is the first of its kind in the world. The Sanakeithel or Women's Market run only by womenfolk which cannot be seen in any other part of the world is also the first of its kind, the heart-rending and shocking incident where a few brave Manipuri women with their unique nude protest drove away a the Assam Rifles from the historic Kangla Fort.

The Manipuris played the game of Polo for the first time in the world as this game originated from Manipur itself. In the field of sports also, sportsperson(Mr Dinkoo) of Manipur brought laurel and pride of the nation of India by plucking Gold Medal in Boxing in Asian Games held at Bangkok - the first in India in Boxing arena. No state in India has produced such a huge number sportswomen who win Gold Medals in various fields of sports other than Manipur. In fact, in the world of sports, without Manipur, India will be counted as a non-sports country of the world if not for the contributions in sports by sportspersons of Manipur.

Miss Irom Sharmila Devi, the Crusader of Peace protesting for a good cause i.e. for removal of AFSPA(Armed Forces Special Powers Act) from Manipur, a draconian law where security forces can kill any person at will has been fasting for more than 11 years - the first(in duration) of its kind in the world, the floating huts of Loktak lake, not on floating boats but on thick layer of grass, unfortunately burnt down by the government was nowhere seen in any other part of the world - the first of its kind.

So, if these kind of heinous unnatural of killing innocents continue further in Manipur, a time may come when the public will lose faith in the system, in everything and lose tolerance completely.

A new kind of revolution - a revolution against the lawful organisations as well as unlawful authorities, the first of its kind in the world may dawn(The famous June 18, 2001 incident - a violent protest against the system can be taken as a starter). The result will then be blood and ashes in our Sanaleipak.