Manipur: CM demands handover of unified command
- In Reports
- 12:04 PM, Sep 09, 2024
- Myind Staff
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, along with several MLAs from the ruling party, has called for the security forces to be placed under the control of the state government, as violence continues to escalate in a region that has been gripped by ethnic conflict for more than 16 months.
Singh, along with several MLAs from the ruling alliance, including cabinet ministers and the Speaker, submitted a memorandum to Governor Laxman Prasad Acharya. The chief minister met with the Governor twice over the weekend to present their demand.
The demand followed reports of another death on Sunday, involving a 50-year-old woman who was fatally injured by shrapnel when unidentified armed groups attacked a CRPF camp in Kangpokpi district.
Just a day earlier, the state witnessed its deadliest day of ethnic clashes this year, with six people killed in a wave of violence that erupted last week. This has set back efforts to stabilise the situation, prompting the Union government to deploy the Indian Army and several paramilitary units.
At least 27 MLAs, who attended two meetings with Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh on Saturday, urged him to either assume control of the unified command or press the Centre to take decisive action to halt the violence in the state, according to sources familiar with the discussions.
The Chief Minister's initial meetings with the Governor had sparked speculation about a possible resignation. However, the sources mentioned above clarified that the MLAs actually wanted the Chief Minister to be granted greater control over the unified command.
The memorandum also called for the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement between the government and certain militant groups, including Kuki militants.
“36 MLAs later submitted a memorandum to the governor with demands such as more powers related to heading the unified command centre, abrogation of Suspension of Operations, and rejecting the Kuki’s demand of a separate administration,” one of the officials said, asking not to be named.
The unified command, comprising 12 senior officials from various government agencies, was officially established on 31 May 2023 to restore normalcy in the state. Its role includes devising counter-insurgency strategies, maintaining law and order, and ensuring the safety of communities in Manipur, where Kuki groups have accused the state police of favouring the Meiteis.
The unified command oversees operations carried out by the Army, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Assam Rifles, and Border Security Force, all of which have been deployed in the state. It is led by former CRPF chief Kuldeep Singh, who was appointed as the Chief Minister's security adviser by the Centre a day after violence initially broke out between the Meitei and Kuki communities on 3 May 2023.
Despite ongoing political efforts to resolve the crisis, violence in Manipur has intensified in recent days. Militants have begun using advanced technologies such as drones and rockets, escalating the violence beyond the previous reliance on rifles and grenades.
Sunday's death, though not officially confirmed at the time of reporting, was one of several incidents of violence across the state, marking the seventh consecutive day of gunfights linked to the ethnic clashes.
Jiribam, where six people lost their lives in the ethnic clashes on Saturday, experienced several more gunfights on Sunday. Reports of gunfire also emerged from other villages in the district, which is located near the Assam border, throughout the day.
On Saturday, a gunfight in Nungchapi, approximately 6 km east of Jiribam Police Station, led to the death of five armed miscreants after a man was attacked at his home. On Sunday morning, another clash erupted between combined security forces and Kuki militants in Mongbung-Seijang village, around 18 km southeast of Jiribam Police Station. The gunfight, which began around 4:30 am when Kuki militants attacked Meitei residences, continued until about 7 am. Later, at around 4:30 pm, the fighting resumed between the security forces and Kuki militants, and by 5:30 pm, it was reportedly still ongoing. No casualties were confirmed at the time of going to print.
According to a second official familiar with the matter, the memorandum also called for the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) with 1961 as the base year to identify illegal immigrants. It included demands for the protection of Manipur's territorial boundaries and opposition to the Kuki's request for a separate administration.
A party official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated, “It looks like he has the support of his MLAs for now. The CM went to meet the governor to apprise him of the current situation and also inform him on what the MLAs feel are the best ways to restore normalcy.”
In response to the escalating violence, the Assam Rifles and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have deployed anti-drone jammers at various locations across the state. Additionally, the CRPF is introducing more "anti-drone guns" to address the issue of militants using drones to drop explosives. According to a police statement, these measures aim to counter the threat posed by the use of drones in the ongoing conflict.
The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), an apex body of Meitei community organisations, has temporarily suspended its indefinite 'public emergency' call across the state, which had been in effect since Friday. The decision to suspend the public emergency followed advice from various sectors, taking into account the impact on student's education and the difficulties faced by daily wage earners.
Image source: PTI
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