Security Forces in Manipur- a ‘whipping boy” for all communities

Brigadier (Retired) L Ibotombi Singh
Immediately after installation of a popular Govt in Manipur, headed by Yumnam Khemchand Singh as the 13th Chief Minister of Manipur on February 4, 2026, violence flared up in Litan area of Ukhrul District, followed with internal community tension amongst Hmar and Kuki-Zo communities, triggered after Nemcha Kipgen, LM Khaute and N Sanate, three MLAs, for having joined the new Government. The torching of 50 plus houses belonging to Kuki and Naga, by the two warring communities, in Litan village appears to be more by design than spontaneous, as reported that the violence stem from a drunken brawl at Litan Sareikhong village, escalated into widespread communal violence. Notwithstanding, there has been many narratives in social, electronic and print medias that the Security Forces (SF) are siding with the mi-litants, particularly groups under Suspension of Operations (SoO), escalating the violence. The Nagas including NSCN-IM has accused the SF for helping and acting in connivance with Kuki militants under SoO, with blurry video clips of militants with automatic wea- pons at the violence incident sites uploaded in va- rious social media sites including ‘You Tube’. Like- wise, the Kuki blames the SF for helping and acting in connivance with Naga militants.
Earlier, it was Meitei and Zo-Kuki communities blaming the SF in particular Assam Rifles, as the punching bag, for showing partisan during aid to civil authorities during May 3rd 2023 and afterwards violence. Introspection of torching of fifty odd houses in Litan and adjoining areas between Tangkhul vs Zo-Kuki communities shows that it is continuation of handwork of the invisible hands not only one, but there are many invisible hands, who want Manipur to continue under violence. Efforts must be made to unmask these invisible hands. The conflict in Litan also shows as a reprisal against the new CM, as Khemchand was the person who reached out to  Kuki-Zo community by  visiting Rehabilitation Camps in Litan and Chassad villages in Dec 25 while Manipur was under President’s Rule.
The unfortunate violence in Litan and Churachandpur has been, as of now, brought under control, except for reported sporadic firing near the Sikibung and Litan Sareikhong foothills, with the help of women’s and civil society organisations, besides using Losii Dikho and Nemcha Kipgen belonging to Naga and Zo-Kuki communities, the two Deputy Chief Ministers, as one of the major means. For this, I must compliment political masters in New Delhi, in particular Amit Shah for pulling the strings very finely, with the Chief Minister, Khemchand leaving to manage in the Impal valley. The new Chief Minister has focused his initial initiatives on restoring peace, rehabilitating internally displaced persons (IDPs), and revitalizing the State’s economy. He held a Cabinet meeting, the very day after swearing in, and declared that restoring peace is the ‘top priority’ and a collective responsibility of all stakeholders. He became the first Chief Minister to visit Jiribam since the 2023 ethnic clashes to restore normalcy and interact with IDPs at the Jiribam Higher Secondary School and Kalinagar relief camps. As the person at the helm, Khemchand has enormous responsibilities and tasks to fulfil, with a very short tenure till the next Assembly elections, due in early 2027. One of the top priorities is restoring law and order, a primary goal for stabilising the State’s security landscape following extended periods of tension and Central rule. He must ensure that there is no repeat of “Litan incident” for next eight months or so, before notification of the State Assembly elections. For achieving the “Magnum Opus”, he must feel the pulse of the people, in particular the aspirations of all the communities. There is a requirement of optimum and synergised utilization of one lakh odd boots, comprising of the army, Assam Rifles, Central armed police forces and State police. Some important suggested actions are:-
(a) Effective Unified Command :  Unlike his predecessor who had no say in functioning of the Unified Command, Kemchand as CM, should  head the Unified Command and have full say in deployment of SF to bring normalcy, as law and order is a State subject. It cannot be left, directly or indirectly, with the MHA through the State Security Advisor. With two Dy CMs, one from Naga another from Zo-Kuki community, ensuring major community representations, however unless a free hand is given to the CM, advised by his team of advisors including on security matters, return of normalcy will be far fetched. It will involve strengthening coordination between Indian Army, State police, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and Central forces like the Assam Rifles, BSF and CRPF, in proactive application of forces in potential vulnerable and flashpoint areas instead of present kneejerk responses, to ensure long-term peace and tranquillity in the State. Further, the Unified Command at strategic levels, must comprise all executives and stakeholders, if required leaders of important CSOs, till completion of reconciliation process and stabilization of the situation. This will facilitate positive engagements with the Assam Rifles and Army, thereby gain the confidence of all the communities, which is lacking from all the warring communities.
(b) Barracking of SOO Groups : All the militant groups under SoO,  Zo-Kuki and valley groups, must be kept inside their designated camps with their weapons locked in armoury for at least next six months, strictly monitored by Central security forces and State police, till return of normalcy including safety for travel by all communities along National and State Highways in Manipur.
(c) Mandate on rules of engagement : A fresh mandate with clear order on rules of engagement and apprehension of any personnel seen with weapons and firearms, seen in public places, must be issued. Simultaneously, any SF personnel found patronizing with militants or showing biasness towards a particular community while on duty, must be booked under relevant laws. The aim is to show impartiality while performing security duties and in maintaining law and order in good faith.
(d) Social, Print and Electronic Media Monitoring Organisation : An effective and dedicated media monitoring organisation, including personnel from cyber cell, must be established, so as to monitor, arrest personnel involved in spreading false narratives. Personnel indulging in such activities with morphed video clips or pictures to incite communal violence must be arrested and prosecuted as per the law.
(e) Opening of National Highways (NH) : Both NH2 and NH37 must be kept opened on priority, safe for travel by all communities. If required, enact suitable laws to make economic or highway blockade as non-bailable offences. In the long term make NH-37, a six lane all weather road alongwith oil pipeline connecting Assam and Manipur. Raise a suitable force like National Highway Protection  Force for Manipur, similar to Railway Protection Force for NH protection. This force should not be used like State police forces, and make a separate force commander not under the DGP police, instead function directly under the MHA.
(f) Publication of White Paper : The report of Justice Ajay Lamba Committee must be finalised at the earliest and not by resorting to repeated extensions, like the fifth extension to submit its report by 20th May, 2026. Side by side the State Government must constitute a committee to prepare a ‘White Paper’ so that May 03rd , 2023 and afterwards violence, is prevented in future as Manipur itself is unity in diversity having many ethnic communities.
(g) Dialogue amongst all stakeholders : As Khemchand is viewed as more acceptable to Kuki-Zo and Naga communities, a major task is to sustain the outreach he began in December 2025 when he visited a Kuki-Zo relief camp. Simultaneous structured and unstructured dialogue between the Meitei, Naga and Zo-Kuki communities involving community leaders, women’s groups, and civil society, moving beyond just the political elite to foster long-term peace. The need is to work towards an inclusive development model to bridge gaps between different communities in the State.
(h) State Think Tank : Explore and create an Apex State Think Tank with representatives from all ethnic Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), senior retired officers (bureaucrats, police as well as military) to advise the CM on equitable development, for bringing everlasting peace and normalcy in the State Unlikely creation of a region akin to FTNA in Manipur. There has been too much reading and speculation about creation of autonomous region within Manipur akin to recent creation of Frontier Nagaland territorial authority (FTNA) in Nagaland. Such corrosive actions by the MHA are unlikely before the State legislative elections due in early 2027, because such step in Ma-nipur could trigger massive public uprisings, viewing it as a threat to the State’s integrity and a potential ‘serious blunder’ besides losing in political field by the ruling dispensation.
The FNTA model is being viewed as a ‘State within a State’ model, offering a potential template for resolving similar regional disparities and separatist demands in other parts of the North East without breaking up existing States. Instead, as Manipur has six Autonomous District Councils (ADCs), it may be wise for Khemchand to conduct the long overdue elections for ADCs along with Panchayat Raj elections within six months. The people of Manipur must demand non disintegration of Manipur and non-creation of autonomous region in Manipur in the election manifestos of various political parties in next year Assembly elections.