Tensions in Manipur have been escalating every passing day. While Kuki militants carried out drone attacks, killing civilians, the Meiteis are also keen on responding, leading to more violence. Sources have told CNN-News18 that the government has also decided to take the strictest possible actions against those involved amid allegations that ex-servicemen may have joined militants in the region.
According to sources, the government is considering cancelling the pension of those involved in violent acts in Manipur, once any evidence surfaces. This could prove to be a major deterrent as servicemen and ex-servicemen share cordial relations.
Meanwhile, amid rising tensions, finding common grounds for talks is turning out to be a huge task for agencies with both Kukis and Meiteis caught in an aggressive conflict. Sources have said that the government wants all round talks, security and is keen to start the healing process as soon as possible.
The biggest concern is both the groups getting more aggressive towards the balkanisation of the state and Union of India has been trying to resist this.
Another issue, sources said, is serious violent conflict in the peripheral areas of Imphal East and West, leading to loss of lives and injuries to a number of people. The government is worried about the spread of violence to other districts.
Government sources have expressed concerns that unplanned one-sided arrests from Meitei villages, where forces arrested insurgent village volunteers, may have left their villages more vulnerable for attacks by Kukis. The Kukis gained grounds with one-sided attacks and reinforced themselves with more weapons, finally using drones.
The government is worried that due to possible drug and foreign funding, weapons are available to these groups in huge numbers with good sophisticated technology. The claim of foreign hand in the use of weaponised drones may be true, but the seizure of 10 high end batteries for use in drones in Guwahati in June was an important action by Assam Police and indicated that drones were going into the North East region in big numbers.
The use of technology is not one sided, sources said adding that both the groups have been responding to each other with newer technology during the conflict.
Another big concern, as per sources, is the Kukis sending a signal to other communities from the Kuki-Chin fold that they are the ones who are at the forefront among their communities in this conflict. They have directly or indirectly told the Kuki-Chin fold that the others are not doing enough, besides also to the Meiteis and Nagas.
According to sources, central forces are not being seen as reliable by the Meiteis citing numerous past instances. Civilians feel they have been left without adequate protection from the government. They have blamed the authorities for the rise of Kuki militants saying their confidence went up because of arbitrary arrests of the Meities.
Sources have said that the Kukis now employing advanced tactics such as drone strikes clearly show the state’s loss of control over its own security set up. “In this case, the state must take measures to have sufficient jammers for drones and even use mortars and other devices to ensure that such aerial attacks don’t happen again,” top intelligence sources said.
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