AFSPA re-imposed in valley, onslaughts from hills
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: December 30, 2024 -

INJURIES suffered by three persons, including a member of the special commando unit of Manipur police and a journalist, in recent attacks carried out by suspected Kuki militants on Meetei villages in Imphal East district, not only confirms which among the two warring communities is the aggressor but also compels one to arise posers on effectiveness of the Armed Forces' Special Powers Act 1958 or AFSPA in the hill areas, where the Act has been promulgated for decades unlike in the valley districts where the same pro-military legislation is not applicable in the Imphal and Greater Imphal areas.

For the record, the on-going violence started on May 3, 2023 after thousands of the so-called solidarity march participants accompanied by substantial number of automatic weapon-wielding individuals, suspected to Kuki militants, targeted Meetei settlements in Torbung and adjoining villages under Bishnupur district, with both state and central forces present in the area reduced to onlookers.

No doubt, security personnel resorted to firing in the air to control the situation but only after the fleeing Meetei folks raised strong objection against inaction by the men in uniform and took to the social media platforms, contending that the security forces, the central forces in particular, are taking side of the perpetrators.

Accusations that the central forces remained as muted spectators while the Meeteis faced attacks from armed Kukis did not end with the Torbung incident but also cropped up periodically as the violence spread across the state.

For instance, when Serou village came under fierce attacks by well-armed Kuki militants, who fired indiscriminately and torched many houses, including that of Sugnu MLA K Ranjit, the handful of Manipur police personnel were the first to resort to retaliatory firing.

Some other viral posts on social media platforms hinting at complicity of the central forces, include inaction by Assam Rifles troopers in Moreh area in-spite of well-armed Kuki militants encircling an armoured vehicle and pointing automatic weapons and locally-made mortars while the Assam Rifles personnel seated inside could be heard frantically telling the aggressors that they don't intent to cause harm.

Contrary to enduring acts of provocation in Moreh, the Assam Rifles adopted aggressive posture by parking an armoured vehicle right at the gate of Sugnu police station thereby blocking movement of the police, whereas another armoured vehicle was stationed nearby, for reasons best known to the central para-military force.

In the latest act of rowdyism or call it complicity, central forces parked armour vehicles on the middle of the road when Manipur police as well as ambulances tried to rescue village folks of Thamnapokpi, Sanasabi, Sabungkhok Khunou and Yaingangpokpi Santikhongbal after these villages under Imphal East district came under attacks by suspected Kuki militants for four consecutive days since December 24.

Though injuries or casualties are imminent if there is use of automatic weapons and bomb shelling, there seems to be no justification in the central forces resorting to road blockades in the valley areas rather than tackling those launching attacks from the hill ranges.

As re-imposition of the AFSPA in areas covered by nine police stations is intended to empower the security forces to tackle unlawful elements, it is suggested that the central forces apply the law without any bias, so as to avert exacerbation of the law and order situation.