Unveiling invisible hands responsible for inciting violence in Manipur : A step in the right direction
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Brigadier (Retd) L Ibotombi Singh
The arrest of one American and six Ukrainian Nationals on March 13, 2026 by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) of India under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) is an ice breaker for unveiling the invisible hands in inciting violence since May 3, 2023. A close examination of Manipur violence which started on May 3, 2023 and afterwards reveals that the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities are not at war, but individuals with an agenda, incited by invisible hands by using the common people of both communities as instruments.
Thus, invisible hands are in play, not one; but many invisible hands, majority within Manipur, are involved in this conflict to destabilise Manipur and Northeast Region (NER), including some areas beyond the international border. In this complex conflict and ethnic divide, it is the invisible hands who are using the blind pawns as a means to capitalise and politicised, thereby achieve their end state. They like to keep the pot boiling at right temperature. The National Security Advisor with his ancillary agencies must take it as a challenge to find all these invisible hands, including those from outside the country and unmask it in public domain as highlighted in the editorial co- lumn September 08, 2024 (Recipe for making civil war a reality in Manipur-The Sangai Express-Largest Circulated Newspaper in Manipur) therefore; arrest made by the NIA is a welcome step towards the right direction.
The reasons as to why the invisible hands created mayhem in Manipur in May 2023 and afterwards, are (a) intense crackdown on narco-terrorism during 2021-23, (b) implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Manipur thereby restrictions against illegal migrants from Myanmar and other regions, (c) crackdown against illegal encroachment and establishments of villages in reserved forests, other forests and Government lands primarily harbouring illegal migrants from Myanmar over many years, (d) prevention and destruction of poppy plantations which shifted over 15 years from golden triangle to hill region of Manipur neighbouring Myanmar (e) streamlining of border trade, with prevention and crackdown against illegal trading from Myanmar and vice versa from Manipur, (f) loud chorus for implementation of NRC from the public and lastly (f) shifting of Kuki insurgent SoO camps which earlier were surrounding Imphal valley.
The seven foreign Nationals (mercenaries?) were arrested for their involvement in cross-border terror support network and conspiracy to train ethnic armed groups in North Eastern India and Myanmar. The group was led by a US National, Matthew Aaron Van- Dyke, purportedly former military personnel, accused of utilizing Mizoram (India) as a transit route to illegally enter Myanmar to provide technical and combat training to Armed Insurgent and Ethnic Groups (AIEGs). VanDyke is identified as a security analyst and documentary filmmaker with a history of his involvement in conflict zones as a mercenary in Libya, Syria, Iraq, and Ukraine, primary role being to manage the logistics, strategy, and recruitment of the team to facilitate training in drone warfare, drone assembly, and jamming technology. The six Ukrainian Nationals, with ex-military backgrounds, were involved in importing high-tech drones and military-grade equipment from Europe into India’s North Eastern Region and Myanmar. The group too allegedly aimed to provide tactical training in weapons handling and drone operations (including assembly and jamming technology) to AIEGs with the aim to bolster the operational capabilities of AIEGs for covert operations against authoritarian regimes by smuggling drones from Europe to use for warfare and reconnaissance. These AIEGs, with whom the seven foreigners were in contact, have links thereby suggesting a wider threat to India’s sovereignty in general and to balkanise Manipur in particular. The group entered India on valid tourist visas but travelled to Mizoram without the mandatory ILP, crossing into Myanmar illegally. Thus, the arrests have established the fact that drones used by Kuki-Zo terrorists to attack at Koutruk and Senjam Chirang in Manipur on 01 and 02 September 2024, were indeed trained in drone warfare and supplied (?) by these mercenaries, over and above drones procured from Delhi and Haryana as proven by the NIA. The arrests also prove involvement of deep State to disintegrate North Eastern part of India.
The recent dialogue between representatives of Kuki-Zo community with the Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on March 21st, though inconclusive, is a good initiative by the ruling dispensation. Such dialogue in future will narrow the gap, thereby lower trust deficits between Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities. However, the attack at the residence of Henlianthang Thanglet, a Vaiphei leader, in Churachandpur district, for taking part in the dialogue held in Guwahati is unfortunate. This attack is again the handiwork of invisible hands using the people (mob) as pawns. Therefore, it is important for the Department of Home, Manipur Government, through Manipur police, must announce cash incentives to personnel who provide credible information or intelligence of invisible hands indulging in inciting violence. Notwithstanding a-three-member Judicial inquiry headed by former Chief Justice of Guwahati High Court, Ajai Lamba, set up since June 03, 2023; now changed to Justice Balbir Singh Chauhan after resignation of Shri Lamba, there is an urgent requirement to prepare a White Paper by the present ruling Government which must include the reasons leading to May 03, 2023 violence and afterwards, lapses, the response by the security forces and other agencies and recommendations to avoid such unfortunate ugly incidents in Manipur.
It is unfortunate that our media continue to use the word “Buffer Zone” while reporting outcome of the dialogue held in Guwahati, like “Kuki-Zo delegation raised the importance of maintaining the sanctity of Buffer Zone until a pollical settlement is reached.” It is reiterated that the terminology “Buffer Zone”, is used during armed conflict between two great powers, as it is a mutually agreed upon area lying between two greater powers, which is demilitarised in the sense of not hosting the armed forces of either power. Thus, there can be no buffer zone per se in Manipur as no two-armed forces of separate Nations are at war. It is an ethnic conflict between two warring communities assisted by Zo-Kuki militant groups under Suspension of Operations (SoO) and Myanmar origin terrorists operating as mercenaries in creating mayhem against innocent Meitei villagers staying on the outskirts of Imphal valley neighbouring Chin-Zo-Kuki dominated areas. Therefore, there is a need to avoid use of this terminology, instead call it “check point barriers”, “security check posts” may be used. This is more pronounced when the Governor of Manipur, Ajay Bhalla during his meeting with the IDPs in January this year dismissed claims of a buffer zone as false and misleading. The State had clarified that while certain sensitive areas has been identified, there is no officially designated buffer zone in Manipur.
Besides 250 killed and 1500 injured, the violence spread over two years, has made around 65 thousand Internally Displace Personnel (IDPs), majority of them yet to be settled till date, some of them spilled over to other parts of the region, thereby affected the economic and social fabrics of the State. Apart from halting almost all economic activity; education and transport and communication are the most severely impacted sectors by the prolonged bloodshed. The Manipur economy will take 20 to 30 years to return to its pre-May 2023 level.
Despite all the difficulties and hardships mentioned above, the two communities are still at loggerheads, disregarding the long historical ties and symbiotic relationship between them. Equally concerning is the fact about illegal arms in the possession of armed civilian groups and terrorists’ outfits are continuing to blaze in the State speaks volumes about the unfinished task of restoring peace. Disarming armed groups both in the hills and the plains without the support of unarmed civilians is a daunting task. Security forces winning the trust of unarmed civilian groups and civil society organisations is a must to achieve success in their operation to seize every single illegal arm in possession of armed miscreants in the State. This will require the forces to ensure adequate security in each violence-hit village by thwarting attacks by armed miscreants.
Deploying strong security pickets and simul- taneously intensifying area domination in surrounding areas of vulnerable villages will boost the confidence of the IDPs to return to their villages. As the present situation of calmness and semblance of law and order is very fragile, the security forces, including State police, must focus on the terrorist/ militant organisations not under SoO, by carrying out specific intelligence-based operations against perpetrators of violence, both SoO groups and internal invisible hands inciting violence. Equally important is requirement of synergised efforts of the three pillars of Indian Constitution, the executive, the legislature and the judiciary, besides truthful reporting by the fourth pillar (media); to make all-out efforts to bring everlasting peace without breaking integrity of Manipur State.
The arrest of one American and six Ukrainian Nationals on March 13, 2026 by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) of India under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) is an ice breaker for unveiling the invisible hands in inciting violence since May 3, 2023. A close examination of Manipur violence which started on May 3, 2023 and afterwards reveals that the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities are not at war, but individuals with an agenda, incited by invisible hands by using the common people of both communities as instruments.
Thus, invisible hands are in play, not one; but many invisible hands, majority within Manipur, are involved in this conflict to destabilise Manipur and Northeast Region (NER), including some areas beyond the international border. In this complex conflict and ethnic divide, it is the invisible hands who are using the blind pawns as a means to capitalise and politicised, thereby achieve their end state. They like to keep the pot boiling at right temperature. The National Security Advisor with his ancillary agencies must take it as a challenge to find all these invisible hands, including those from outside the country and unmask it in public domain as highlighted in the editorial co- lumn September 08, 2024 (Recipe for making civil war a reality in Manipur-The Sangai Express-Largest Circulated Newspaper in Manipur) therefore; arrest made by the NIA is a welcome step towards the right direction.
The reasons as to why the invisible hands created mayhem in Manipur in May 2023 and afterwards, are (a) intense crackdown on narco-terrorism during 2021-23, (b) implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Manipur thereby restrictions against illegal migrants from Myanmar and other regions, (c) crackdown against illegal encroachment and establishments of villages in reserved forests, other forests and Government lands primarily harbouring illegal migrants from Myanmar over many years, (d) prevention and destruction of poppy plantations which shifted over 15 years from golden triangle to hill region of Manipur neighbouring Myanmar (e) streamlining of border trade, with prevention and crackdown against illegal trading from Myanmar and vice versa from Manipur, (f) loud chorus for implementation of NRC from the public and lastly (f) shifting of Kuki insurgent SoO camps which earlier were surrounding Imphal valley.
The seven foreign Nationals (mercenaries?) were arrested for their involvement in cross-border terror support network and conspiracy to train ethnic armed groups in North Eastern India and Myanmar. The group was led by a US National, Matthew Aaron Van- Dyke, purportedly former military personnel, accused of utilizing Mizoram (India) as a transit route to illegally enter Myanmar to provide technical and combat training to Armed Insurgent and Ethnic Groups (AIEGs). VanDyke is identified as a security analyst and documentary filmmaker with a history of his involvement in conflict zones as a mercenary in Libya, Syria, Iraq, and Ukraine, primary role being to manage the logistics, strategy, and recruitment of the team to facilitate training in drone warfare, drone assembly, and jamming technology. The six Ukrainian Nationals, with ex-military backgrounds, were involved in importing high-tech drones and military-grade equipment from Europe into India’s North Eastern Region and Myanmar. The group too allegedly aimed to provide tactical training in weapons handling and drone operations (including assembly and jamming technology) to AIEGs with the aim to bolster the operational capabilities of AIEGs for covert operations against authoritarian regimes by smuggling drones from Europe to use for warfare and reconnaissance. These AIEGs, with whom the seven foreigners were in contact, have links thereby suggesting a wider threat to India’s sovereignty in general and to balkanise Manipur in particular. The group entered India on valid tourist visas but travelled to Mizoram without the mandatory ILP, crossing into Myanmar illegally. Thus, the arrests have established the fact that drones used by Kuki-Zo terrorists to attack at Koutruk and Senjam Chirang in Manipur on 01 and 02 September 2024, were indeed trained in drone warfare and supplied (?) by these mercenaries, over and above drones procured from Delhi and Haryana as proven by the NIA. The arrests also prove involvement of deep State to disintegrate North Eastern part of India.
The recent dialogue between representatives of Kuki-Zo community with the Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on March 21st, though inconclusive, is a good initiative by the ruling dispensation. Such dialogue in future will narrow the gap, thereby lower trust deficits between Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities. However, the attack at the residence of Henlianthang Thanglet, a Vaiphei leader, in Churachandpur district, for taking part in the dialogue held in Guwahati is unfortunate. This attack is again the handiwork of invisible hands using the people (mob) as pawns. Therefore, it is important for the Department of Home, Manipur Government, through Manipur police, must announce cash incentives to personnel who provide credible information or intelligence of invisible hands indulging in inciting violence. Notwithstanding a-three-member Judicial inquiry headed by former Chief Justice of Guwahati High Court, Ajai Lamba, set up since June 03, 2023; now changed to Justice Balbir Singh Chauhan after resignation of Shri Lamba, there is an urgent requirement to prepare a White Paper by the present ruling Government which must include the reasons leading to May 03, 2023 violence and afterwards, lapses, the response by the security forces and other agencies and recommendations to avoid such unfortunate ugly incidents in Manipur.
It is unfortunate that our media continue to use the word “Buffer Zone” while reporting outcome of the dialogue held in Guwahati, like “Kuki-Zo delegation raised the importance of maintaining the sanctity of Buffer Zone until a pollical settlement is reached.” It is reiterated that the terminology “Buffer Zone”, is used during armed conflict between two great powers, as it is a mutually agreed upon area lying between two greater powers, which is demilitarised in the sense of not hosting the armed forces of either power. Thus, there can be no buffer zone per se in Manipur as no two-armed forces of separate Nations are at war. It is an ethnic conflict between two warring communities assisted by Zo-Kuki militant groups under Suspension of Operations (SoO) and Myanmar origin terrorists operating as mercenaries in creating mayhem against innocent Meitei villagers staying on the outskirts of Imphal valley neighbouring Chin-Zo-Kuki dominated areas. Therefore, there is a need to avoid use of this terminology, instead call it “check point barriers”, “security check posts” may be used. This is more pronounced when the Governor of Manipur, Ajay Bhalla during his meeting with the IDPs in January this year dismissed claims of a buffer zone as false and misleading. The State had clarified that while certain sensitive areas has been identified, there is no officially designated buffer zone in Manipur.
Besides 250 killed and 1500 injured, the violence spread over two years, has made around 65 thousand Internally Displace Personnel (IDPs), majority of them yet to be settled till date, some of them spilled over to other parts of the region, thereby affected the economic and social fabrics of the State. Apart from halting almost all economic activity; education and transport and communication are the most severely impacted sectors by the prolonged bloodshed. The Manipur economy will take 20 to 30 years to return to its pre-May 2023 level.
Despite all the difficulties and hardships mentioned above, the two communities are still at loggerheads, disregarding the long historical ties and symbiotic relationship between them. Equally concerning is the fact about illegal arms in the possession of armed civilian groups and terrorists’ outfits are continuing to blaze in the State speaks volumes about the unfinished task of restoring peace. Disarming armed groups both in the hills and the plains without the support of unarmed civilians is a daunting task. Security forces winning the trust of unarmed civilian groups and civil society organisations is a must to achieve success in their operation to seize every single illegal arm in possession of armed miscreants in the State. This will require the forces to ensure adequate security in each violence-hit village by thwarting attacks by armed miscreants.
Deploying strong security pickets and simul- taneously intensifying area domination in surrounding areas of vulnerable villages will boost the confidence of the IDPs to return to their villages. As the present situation of calmness and semblance of law and order is very fragile, the security forces, including State police, must focus on the terrorist/ militant organisations not under SoO, by carrying out specific intelligence-based operations against perpetrators of violence, both SoO groups and internal invisible hands inciting violence. Equally important is requirement of synergised efforts of the three pillars of Indian Constitution, the executive, the legislature and the judiciary, besides truthful reporting by the fourth pillar (media); to make all-out efforts to bring everlasting peace without breaking integrity of Manipur State.