Effective political dialogue need of the hour as AFSPA imposed in new areas of Manipur

The Union Home Ministry has imposed Armed Forces (Special) Powers Act in six police station areas across five districts of Manipur to contain activities of insurgent groups. The move gives powers to the Indian Army, the Assam Rifles and central armed police forces to conduct operations, searches and seizures in a large part of the state plagued by violence and unrest.

In the absence of an effective political dialogue that can facilitate a cessation of violence and stop the loss of innocent lives, the onus seems to be back on the armed forces to control the violent unrest in Manipur. A political dialogue that can bridge the gap between the warring communities, coupled with action against insurgents, is the need of the hour to restore normalcy in the strife-torn state. Both need to go hand in hand, said security experts, for an effective solution. 

Presently, there are 220 companies (nearly 18,000 personnel) of central paramilitary forces—CRPF, BSF, ITBP and SSB—already deployed in Manipur to assist the state government in maintaining law and order. Besides, 150 columns of the Army are also deployed within the state. Security sources said more security forces may be deployed on the ground as incidents of violence have stirred further unrest especially in five districts. 

In September, the Manipur government had declared the entire state excluding the areas falling under the jurisdiction of 19 police stations as "Disturbed Area" for six months starting October 1. The excluded jurisdictions were Imphal, Lamlai, Lamphel, Irilbung, Leimakhong, Singjamei, Thoubal, Sekmai,  Bishnupur, Lamsang, Nambol, Patsoi, Moirang, Wangoi, Kakching, Porompat, Jiribam and Heingang. 

However, following inputs from multiple agencies and a fresh assessment of the security situation in Manipur which continues to remain volatile, the Centre has decided to impose AFSPA in six police stations—Sekmai and Lamsang (Imphal West), Lamlai (Imphal East), Jiribam (Jiribam district), Leimakhong (Kangpokpi) and Moirang (Bishnupur) 

These six districts are declared “disturbed area” under Section 3 of AFSPA with immediate effect until March 31 unless withdrawn earlier, says the notification issued by the union home ministry. 

Making out a case for well coordinated operations by security forces, the MHA notifications says that ethnic violence and intermittent firing continue in the fringe areas of Bishnupur-Churachandpur, Imphal East-Kangpokpi-Imphal West and Jiribam districts with several instances of active participation of insurgent groups in heinous acts of violence. 

Besides, agitations for rescuing six missing persons have intensified in Manipur even as security forces continue the search operations. Sources said no group has claimed responsibility so far and efforts are on to ascertain the identity of the outfit behind it. There is also fresh worry of use of child soldiers by some of the militant groups, said security officials, in the recent incidents of burning of houses and heavy firing in villages in Imphal West where use of improvised missiles and drone bombings have come to light.  

Some of the areas were close to the BSF camp even as attacks on the CRPF camp have continued unabated prompting retaliation. The realisation that the attempts to hold peace talks are not yielding results and the situation in Manipur, which once seemed to be limping back to normalcy months ago, can deteriorate further has prompted the Centre to impose AFSPA and consider deploying more boots on the ground to tackle the insurgent groups fuelling violence. 

It will require a fine balancing act going forward to ensure there is no resentment against the security forces of a population that has suffered several cycles of violence in the tiny northeastern state.