SoO and selective law application
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Dr S Anjali Chanu
More than three years have passed since the outbreak of the Manipur conflict. During this period, village volunteers emerged across different communities and became a major force on the ground. Today, State and Central security forces are carrying out combing operations. Village volunteers have been arrested, investigated, and prosecuted. The Govt says these actions are necessary to restore law and order.
However, an important question remains. Are all armed actors being treated equally under the law ? The Government of India signed the SoO agreement with Kuki armed groups to maintain peace and support political dialogue. Under this agreement, cadres are expected to stay in designated camps and follow the agreed ground rules.
If some SoO cadres took part in the conflict as village volunteers, then the public has a right to know the truth. Many reports, public discussions, and allegations have raised questions about possible links between some village volunteers and individuals associated with SoO groups. These claims have been widely discussed since the conflict began. Thousands of Central security personnel were deployed in Manipur after the conflict began.
Security checkpoints were set up across the State. If allegations about the involvement of SoO-linked individuals existed, were they properly investigated ? If any SoO rules were violated, did the security agencies detect them ? If not, was there a failure in monitoring, intelligence, or law enforcement ? These are important questions because people expect the law to be applied equally to everyone.
If investigations were conducted, what were the findings ? If any violations of the SoO agreement were found, what action was taken ? Another important issue is the source of weapons used during the conflict.
Who supplied these weapons ? Who financed their purchase and transportation? Did these weapons come from looted armouries, cross-border smuggling networks, underground groups, or other sources?
Have all weapon supply routes been fully investigated ? Questions have also been raised about reports of foreign Nationals allegedly found in conflict-related situations. If any foreign individual with a military background was involved, what was their role ? Were they acting alone, or were they connected to any group or organization ? Were these allegations properly investigated by the authorities ?
The public deserves clear answers. Without transparency, doubts and suspicions will continue to grow. Many citizens see actions against Meitei and Naga village volunteers. At the same time, questions continue to be raised about those allegedly linked to SoO groups.
Public trust depends on transparency. Several questions deserve clear answers. Who are the Kuki village volunteers ? Are they completely separate from SoO groups ? Or is there an overlap between the two ? If they are separate, who protected Kuki villages during the conflict ? If there is an overlap, were the conditions of the SoO agreement violated ? How many people linked to SoO groups have been investigated since May 2023 ? How many have been arrested ? How many have been prosecuted ? How many weapons have been recovered from them ?
How did they reach conflict areas despite the presence of state and central security forces ? Have all supply networks been investigated with equal seriousness ? Asking for accountability is not an attack on any community. It is about respecting the Constitution, the rule of law, and democratic values. Lasting peace can only be achieved when laws are applied fairly to everyone. Transparency and accountability should not be selective. When the same standards are applied to all, public trust grows, justice is strengthened, and peace becomes more sustainable.
In a democracy, one law must apply to everyone. No group should be above scrutiny. No group should be beyond investigation. No group should receive special treatment. The Government can strengthen public confidence by providing clear and transparent answers.
If accountability is necessary for peace, then accountability must apply to all. The operational ambiguity between community-led village volunteers and formal SoO cadres remains the central flashpoint of public skepticism. To dispel rumors and restore institutional trust, the Government must provide verifiable, empirical metrics. Transparency should not be a abstract ideal, but a matter of public record. The State needs to disclose the exact numbers of SoO-linked individuals investigated, arrested, and prosecuted since May 2023, alongside an audit of weapons in designated camps.
More than three years have passed since the outbreak of the Manipur conflict. During this period, village volunteers emerged across different communities and became a major force on the ground. Today, State and Central security forces are carrying out combing operations. Village volunteers have been arrested, investigated, and prosecuted. The Govt says these actions are necessary to restore law and order.
However, an important question remains. Are all armed actors being treated equally under the law ? The Government of India signed the SoO agreement with Kuki armed groups to maintain peace and support political dialogue. Under this agreement, cadres are expected to stay in designated camps and follow the agreed ground rules.
If some SoO cadres took part in the conflict as village volunteers, then the public has a right to know the truth. Many reports, public discussions, and allegations have raised questions about possible links between some village volunteers and individuals associated with SoO groups. These claims have been widely discussed since the conflict began. Thousands of Central security personnel were deployed in Manipur after the conflict began.
Security checkpoints were set up across the State. If allegations about the involvement of SoO-linked individuals existed, were they properly investigated ? If any SoO rules were violated, did the security agencies detect them ? If not, was there a failure in monitoring, intelligence, or law enforcement ? These are important questions because people expect the law to be applied equally to everyone.
If investigations were conducted, what were the findings ? If any violations of the SoO agreement were found, what action was taken ? Another important issue is the source of weapons used during the conflict.
Who supplied these weapons ? Who financed their purchase and transportation? Did these weapons come from looted armouries, cross-border smuggling networks, underground groups, or other sources?
Have all weapon supply routes been fully investigated ? Questions have also been raised about reports of foreign Nationals allegedly found in conflict-related situations. If any foreign individual with a military background was involved, what was their role ? Were they acting alone, or were they connected to any group or organization ? Were these allegations properly investigated by the authorities ?
The public deserves clear answers. Without transparency, doubts and suspicions will continue to grow. Many citizens see actions against Meitei and Naga village volunteers. At the same time, questions continue to be raised about those allegedly linked to SoO groups.
Public trust depends on transparency. Several questions deserve clear answers. Who are the Kuki village volunteers ? Are they completely separate from SoO groups ? Or is there an overlap between the two ? If they are separate, who protected Kuki villages during the conflict ? If there is an overlap, were the conditions of the SoO agreement violated ? How many people linked to SoO groups have been investigated since May 2023 ? How many have been arrested ? How many have been prosecuted ? How many weapons have been recovered from them ?
How did they reach conflict areas despite the presence of state and central security forces ? Have all supply networks been investigated with equal seriousness ? Asking for accountability is not an attack on any community. It is about respecting the Constitution, the rule of law, and democratic values. Lasting peace can only be achieved when laws are applied fairly to everyone. Transparency and accountability should not be selective. When the same standards are applied to all, public trust grows, justice is strengthened, and peace becomes more sustainable.
In a democracy, one law must apply to everyone. No group should be above scrutiny. No group should be beyond investigation. No group should receive special treatment. The Government can strengthen public confidence by providing clear and transparent answers.
If accountability is necessary for peace, then accountability must apply to all. The operational ambiguity between community-led village volunteers and formal SoO cadres remains the central flashpoint of public skepticism. To dispel rumors and restore institutional trust, the Government must provide verifiable, empirical metrics. Transparency should not be a abstract ideal, but a matter of public record. The State needs to disclose the exact numbers of SoO-linked individuals investigated, arrested, and prosecuted since May 2023, alongside an audit of weapons in designated camps.