Who is the master of Manipur: Who is playing with security of Manipur?
Onkareshwar Pandeya September 27,2024
Manipur, located in the far northeast of India and adjoining the Myanmar-Bangladesh border, is not just a state; it is a symbol of India’s security, identity and strategic heritage. The state has long been living under the shadow of instability and violence. Recent developments have further deepened this vulnerability. But the question is who is messing with Manipur on the security front? The sensational news of infiltration of 900 armed Kuki militants from the Myanmar border that shook the already conflict-ridden state eventually turned out to be false. It not only raised questions about the security of the state but also raised serious questions about the security policies of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre.
False alarm or real concern?
On September 20, 2024, Kuldeep Singh, the Security Advisor of Manipur, had announced in a press conference that 900 Kuki militants had infiltrated from Myanmar. These militants were trained in jungle warfare, drone attacks and bombings, and were planning a coordinated attack on the Meitei community of Manipur on September 28. Panic spread in Manipur and tension prevailed among several communities. The Kuki community rejected the
U-turn: Lack of evidence, security lapse
Shockingly, just a few days later, on September 26, the same security advisor, Kuldeep Singh, went back on his earlier statement and said that the information about the infiltration of 900 Kuki militants could not be verified on the ground. According to him, “Attempts were made to verify this input from several sources, but no concrete evidence was found.” This statement not only raises questions on the credibility of the security advisor, but also proves that the fear created in the state based on this serious intelligence is baseless. Earlier, on September 17, a letter was also issued by the Chief Minister’s Office of Manipur, warning the DGP and the security advisor about the infiltration of 900 militants. That letter created a lot of buzz on social media, and many people termed it as a rumour, but the silence of the state government made this report more credible.
Who is playing with the security of Manipur: Who are these people who first say that 900 armed Kuki militants have entered Manipur from Myanmar border, what weapons do they have, how many groups are they divided into, and on what date are they going to attack. And then say that all this information proved to be wrong on the ground. Amazing! This information was not from any WhatsApp University. This information has been duly confirmed by the senior-most officer posted as the security advisor of the state in Manipur. Does this joke with the security of the country not raise serious questions on the already proven failure of the state government of Chief Minister N Birendra Singh as well as the central government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi?
Doesn’t such a serious negligence that has created a sensation among the people of the entire state and the entire country expose the capability, understanding and capacity of the security advisor? When the people of the tribal community of the state start protesting, and despite pressure, the local media puts the intelligence agencies and their masters in the dock, then you come and say that my information was not confirmed?
This incident once again tells about the serious situation in Manipur. This incident raises serious questions on the capability of the security and intelligence agencies deployed in the state, especially their top officers.
The biggest question is that if 900 armed Kuki militants crossed the border from Myanmar and entered Manipur, what were the Assam Rifles deployed on the border doing? When the Daily Sangai Express raised sharp questions on this issue in its editorial: “When 900 militants can cross the border and enter India, what is the meaning of border security?”
Central government’s silence: Is there some political game going on? Union Home Minister Amit Shah had blamed cross-border infiltration as the main reason behind the violence in Manipur. But just days later, reports of infiltration of 900 militants came in, which are now being proven false. Despite this, there has been no concrete response from the central government. Are the agencies manipulating them or the state government? Sangai Express has made serious inroads in its recent editorial, “This entire development seems to indicate that Delhi is playing some game, and this is creating more confusion among the people of Manipur.”
Role of Assam Rifles: Is the border really safe?
Assam Rifles is a very old and prestigious security force. It has its own credibility. But when there is a period of fake news and misinformation-disinformation, political tricks are being played, then it is natural for it to get caught in it. People are asking that if the entry of 900 militants into Manipur was true, then it would have been a serious lapse in India’s security. But if this was wrong, then it is clear that the intelligence agencies either failed, or a rumour was deliberately spread. This raises another question: did the Assam Rifles fulfill its responsibility? Or was it not heard?
Conclusion: Security crisis in Manipur or political ploy?
This entire episode has once again raised serious questions on the security situation in Manipur. The false report of infiltration of 900 militants has created a state of fear and confusion in the state, and also dented the credibility of the security agencies. The central government should seriously investigate this matter and ensure that the security of a sensitive state like Manipur is not compromised in any way. Manipur is already feeling leaderless due to the failures of Chief Minister N Biren Singh. The central government also does not seem to be paying serious attention to this. So the question is who is the mai baap of Manipur?
