From February 9, 13 to now Deadline of March 8
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Things seem to be moving fast and with a purpose. Chief Minister N Biren asked to step down on February 9. President’s Rule imposed on February 13. Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla comes out with an open notification on February 20 asking all to surrender illegal arms that may be in their possession within one week. Positive response met the call of the Governor, with even the Arambai Tenggol turning in 246 arms in their possession, prompting the Governor to extend the clemency period of handing over the arms by yet another 7 days. The second phase of the ‘surrender illegal arms’ call came on February 28 and this too has met with the same positive response from the people who matter. In between Manipur has seen security forces demonstrating they mean business and have started cracking down on bunkers, spots used to fire upon human settlements at the foothills, the most recent and notable being the firing on devotees who had gathered to pray at Kongba Maru Laiphamlen under Sagolmang police station on February 28. It was perhaps for the first time that Manipur saw the State police and Central security forces working in tandem with each other and taking the fight to the Kuki militants who fired from their bunkers on the devotees. Dismantling the bunkers and the no-nonsense warning issued to the Kuki village chiefs were the expected follow up action that Manipur saw. Earlier marching orders given to the illegal check post put up at Gamgiphai and in the process six Kuki people were arrested for obstructing the destruction drive launched by the security personnel. All solid steps taken up to demonstrate that there is a Government in place and people who refuse to toe the line drawn up by the authority concerned will face the music. Something Manipur has not witnessed for nearly two years, after it went up in flames in the evening of May 3, 2023. One hopes that Raj Bhavan continues with the good work, shown so far, and follow this up with the task of tackling the huge financial burden placed on the common folks by different organisations serving ‘demand notes.’ In less than a month of President’s Rule being imposed, there are signs to show that there is a Government in place and this could be to the advantage of Manipur. In line with the constructive moves taken up so far, Delhi has directed security forces to ensure free movement on all routes and this is where one is instantly reminded of the Imphal-Dimapur route which has been off limits for the Meiteis since May 3, 2023. The deadline to clear all the routes is March 8 and Manipur would certainly be watching closely to see if the deadline can be met or not.
Clear the highways and ensure free flow of goods and people and this is the point that has been delivered by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and in line with this instruction, the Centre has made it clear that strict action would be taken up against those who create obstacles on the roads. An order which has come after nearly two years since violence erupted on May 3, 2023. And after which the Centre rushed in 60,000 Central troops to help control the law and order situation. Again it was the Union Home Minister who is understood to have told the then Chief Minister that he (Amit Shah) would look after the hills while the Chief Minister should look after the valley sometime in 2023. And in the process buffer zones came to criss cross the length and breadth of Manipur, ‘encouraging’ many Kuki individuals to proclaim that the State has literally been bifurcated. Now with the Union Home Minister making it clear that all roads should be free of obstacles, the understanding of buffer zones may also gradually subside. A look back at the early days after May 3, 2023 would leave no one in doubt that the long arms of the law should have been applied on the National Highways and this is where one is left wondering what the additional 60,000 troops were tasked with while leaving the highways free for the vigilantes to impose their writ all this while.
Clear the highways and ensure free flow of goods and people and this is the point that has been delivered by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and in line with this instruction, the Centre has made it clear that strict action would be taken up against those who create obstacles on the roads. An order which has come after nearly two years since violence erupted on May 3, 2023. And after which the Centre rushed in 60,000 Central troops to help control the law and order situation. Again it was the Union Home Minister who is understood to have told the then Chief Minister that he (Amit Shah) would look after the hills while the Chief Minister should look after the valley sometime in 2023. And in the process buffer zones came to criss cross the length and breadth of Manipur, ‘encouraging’ many Kuki individuals to proclaim that the State has literally been bifurcated. Now with the Union Home Minister making it clear that all roads should be free of obstacles, the understanding of buffer zones may also gradually subside. A look back at the early days after May 3, 2023 would leave no one in doubt that the long arms of the law should have been applied on the National Highways and this is where one is left wondering what the additional 60,000 troops were tasked with while leaving the highways free for the vigilantes to impose their writ all this while.