THE situation in Manipur beginning on May 3, 2023, which witnessed large scale violence and ethnic clashes between Meiteis and Kukis had reached alarming proportion. There has been vandalisation of houses, arson and attacks on properties, churches and temples across the five valley districts and some hill districts i.e., Churachandpur, Tengnoupal, Kangpokpi districts and others.

The outbreak of ethnic clashes has resulted in a significant loss of life, with the death toll exceeding 130. Additionally, around 800 individuals have been injured, and the devastation includes the destruction of approximately 5,000 homes and 200 villages. The scale of displacement is extensive, with an estimated 60,000 people forced to leave their respective villages. To seek safety, over 10,000 individuals have resorted to air travel and sought shelter outside the state of Manipur. The severity of the situation is underscored by the fact that even the residences of some ministers and MLAs were not spared from the violence.

It is reported that more than 35, 000 personnel of army and para military forces were airlifted to Imphal and deployed in the affected districts, but still the government has not been able to control the situation. Still attacks on far flung villages are going on and gun lighting is continuing in the villages at the foothills of Imphal valley. The law and order situation is worsening day by day as reports of violence increase every hour in the state. The situation in like a civil war.

Differences have arisen between the central paramilitary forces, specifically the Assam Rifles (AR), and the state forces. Central forces are playing the spectator’s role, as houses and buildings have been set ablaze and destroyed right in front of their presence. The state forces have been unable to fulfill their duty of protecting the lives and properties of the citizens. Houses and buildings have been burned down within a mere 150-meter radius of significant establishments such as the official residences of the chief minister, Raj Bhawan, Police Headquarters, Civil Secretariat, as well as key central government institutions including the AG Office, BSNL, Post Office, and others.

On May 4, 2023, the Party released a press statement emphasizing the importance of maintaining peace, tranquility, and communal harmony in Manipur. The Party strongly condemned the ethnic clashes and expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and properties. The state unit further appealed to the government to actively work towards fostering communal harmony and take effective measures to prevent further violence and protect the lives of innocent people. Additionally, the Party urged the chief minister of Manipur to convene an all-party meeting to address the situation collectively and find solutions to restore peace and harmony in the region.

The all-party meeting, held on May 6, 2023, saw the participation of Kshetrimayum Santa, secretary of CPI (M), along with state committee members Rajkumar Sanajaoba Singh and Kshetrimayum Sopen Singh. During the meeting, we highlighted several crucial concerns. Firstly, we emphasized the urgent need to distribute sufficient relief materials to the affected individuals residing in relief camps. Additionally, we stressed the importance of rescuing and providing assistance to those who have fled their homes and are seeking refuge to escape the ongoing conflict in both the hills and the valley. Furthermore, we raised the issue of recovering weapons from militant organisations that are signatories to the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement. We also raised the matter of reclaiming service weapons that were seized from the state police and armed forces by certain individuals. Lastly, we emphasized the necessity of providing adequate compensation to those who have suffered loss of lives and properties due to the conflict.

A delegation of Left Parties in Manipur, namely CPI (M), CPI, RSP, and Forward Bloc, met with Governor Anusya Uikey on May 8, 2023. The delegation put forth suggestions to find a peaceful resolution to the communal violence that erupted on May 3rd and restore normalcy in the state. They expressed their concern over security lapses and intelligence failures that failed to curb the violence, resulting in numerous casualties and property damage in various parts of the state, particularly Churachandpur, Moreh, Kangpokpi, Saikul, and Imphal.

During the meeting, the delegation inquired about the imposition of Article 355 in Manipur. While the governor confirmed the promulgation of the article, the state security advisor to the government of Manipur denied its imposition. The delegation pointed out that the state government, led by N Biren Singh of the BJP, failed to implement the decisions made by all political parties, as only representatives from the ruling party were included in the peace and sheltering committees established by the government. In response, the governor assured the delegation that she would instruct the chief minister of Manipur to include representatives from all political parties in the government-sponsored committees.

The delegation expressed that the chief minister had acknowledged security lapses and intelligence failures that contributed to the clashes on May 3rd. They emphasized that if adequate measures had been taken promptly in Churachandpur, Moreh, and Motbung, such unfortunate clashes could have been prevented.

The union home minister, Amit Shah, visited Manipur on May 29 after a gap of 26 days since the outbreak of ethnic violence. Accompanied by MoS Home, Nityanand Rai, the home secretary, and the intelligence bureau chief, the home minister engaged with various sections of Manipuri society during his four-day high-profile visit. On May 30th, the home minister led a high-power team that included Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh in a meeting with selected political party leaders at the CM Secretariat room. CPI(M) was represented by Kshetrimayum Santa. During the meeting, he highlighted the failures of the BJP-led state government in controlling law and order, as well as the existence of security lapses and intelligence failures.

The CPI(M) representative pointed out that not a single bullet was fired to disperse the mobs on May 3rd at Churachandpur district headquarters and the border town of Moreh, which resulted in the rapid destruction of urban villages. The news quickly spread, leading to attacks by opposing ethnic groups armed with firearms on hundreds of rural and urban villages the following day. This resulted in the displacement of 60,000 people to safer places, including neighbouring states such as Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and even some fleeing to Myanmar. He also cited newspaper reports stating that more than 4,000 sophisticated arms and a large quantity of ammunition were either looted or snatched by individuals involved in the violence.

Despite the deployment of 35,000 army and paramilitary personnel who were airlifted to Manipur, the situation remained uncontrollable, with daily incidents of arson, innocent killings, and the burning of villages. The alleged imposition of Article 355 failed to contain the ethnic violence. The CPI(M) representative emphasized the need for the central government's intervention until normalcy is restored in Manipur. He called for the implementation of the ground rules of the "Suspension of Operation" (SoO) agreement signed by Kuki militants with the governments of India and Manipur. Additionally, he demanded the retrieval of arms and ammunition looted and snatched from the premises of state forces in the hills and valleys of Manipur. He further proposed the formation of a high-level commission of inquiry, headed by a Supreme Court judge, to investigate the ethnic violence and recommend measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

Besides meeting Imphal-based CSOs and visiting some relief camps, Amit Shah also visited the Kuki-inhabited districts of Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, and Tengnoupal. During these visits, he met with Kuki leaders, representatives, and displaced persons in the camps. On the last day of his four-day visit to Manipur, which was June 1st, the home minister held a press conference and made several announcements.

Firstly, he stated that the ethnic violence had erupted following the hasty order of the High Court of Manipur regarding the demand for Scheduled Tribe status for the Meitei community. He urged the rioters to hand over any arms and ammunition they had snatched to the authorities.

Additionally, he emphasized that strict action would be taken against those who violate the ground rules of the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement. He announced that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) would handle six cases related to the violence, including a criminal conspiracy.

The home minister appointed IPS officer Kuldip Singh as the in-charge of the Inter-Agency Unified Command. He also stated that a retired chief justice of the High Court would head the investigation, and the governor would head a committee for the restoration of peace. To ensure peace and normalcy, a joint secretary-level officer from the ministry of home affairs and five director-level officers from different ministries would be stationed in Manipur. They would remain there until peace and normalcy were restored. Furthermore, Amit Shah announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 10 lakhs for each person who lost their life in the violence. He also emphasized the need to identify individuals coming from Myanmar through biometric and iris impressions.

These were the key announcements made by the home minister during his visit and press conference in Manipur.

The ongoing violence in Manipur continues unabated, and a lasting solution has yet to be found. Amit Shah's visit did not yield a specific formula or solution to put an end to the ethnic violence. It is crucial to acknowledge that until the violence perpetrated by the Kuki militants and private armies of fundamentalist forces is effectively controlled, the prospects for peace and harmony in Manipur will remain elusive.