The biggest troublemakers in Manipur are the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), whose numbers are numerous, with many vying to be the true guardian of their own constituency. In the aftermath of the May 3, 2023 ethnic clashes, these organisations took control of the roads, with some working alongside radical elements.
Many took the law into their own hands, dispensing justice through kangaroo courts and indulging in molestation, looting, arson, rape, murder, and the demolition of houses, often while law enforcement authorities watched helplessly. It was mayhem, and it continued for many days.
The fatal blow to restoring normalcy was delivered when the unthinkable happened—mobs looting police guns. Losing guns should have raised alarm bells and provoked the strongest possible actions from the state government. Instead, the looting appeared more like the arming of militias at a time of war.
Guns and ammunition from police armories were carted away without resistance—no shots fired, no heads rolled. The ease with which police guns were looted speaks volumes about the alleged complicity of state authorities. Lawlessness became the new normal. The height of lawlessness was witnessed in January 2024, when radicalized elements humiliated elected representatives by parading them at Kangla, effectively emasculating the state government’s authority.
Even a senior police officer was not spared, as his house was ransacked after he dared to question their actions. The state government did not retaliate to uphold the dignity of the police officer but instead surrendered meekly to the high-handedness of a non-state actor. This led to a demoralized police force briefly laying down arms in protest. Having established their dominance, extortion became rampant as the state government lost all legitimacy to govern.
President’s Rule should have been imposed when mayhem broke out in the aftermath of 5/3. The situation would not have deteriorated the way it did. Frustrated mobs, seeing no governance, attacked, ransacked, and burned legislators’ houses.
Unable to bear the humiliation of lawlessness, disgruntled legislators of the ruling party threatened to bring down the state government in the first assembly session of 2025. Only when the prospect of embarrassment on the floor of the House loomed large—coupled with the Chief Minister being implicated in a leaked audio recording on looted guns, now litigated in the Supreme Court with a forensic report showing a 93% voice match—did the inevitable become unavoidable. Shri N. Biren Singh resigned, and the search for a replacement began.
The divide between the Valley and Hills in Manipur is so deep that leadership replacement—confined to BJP MLAs from the Meitei community—proved unsuccessful. The failure to find a suitable, competent, and acceptable leader itself reflects the influence of money and muscle power in Manipur’s electoral democracy, which has produced representatives fit only for a kakistocracy.
The fact that the search for a new Chief Minister was confined only to the Meitei community, excluding all others, is a stark indication that Manipur is already a fractured state. President’s Rule came as no surprise to keen observers of the Manipur crisis. However, it came too late—the wound inflicted has already festered.
Quick-fix solutions will not work now, as the chasm between the two communities is too wide. The previous government attempted to restore free movement between the clashing communities, but there were no passengers brave enough to cross enemy lines, and the effort failed miserably. The administration under President’s Rule is repeating the same mistake.
Even if a trip or two succeeds, it cannot be sustained. Unlike goods transport, which can be replaced, human beings are irreplaceable and must be handled with care. After the clash on the first day of promised free movement, the situation has only become more complicated. An irresponsible CSO appears to have interpreted the announcement as an opportunity to reaffirm its dominance by organizing a victory march through the territory of a subjugated community.
This attempt can only be termed suicidal, as two innocent travelers barely escaped an attack on security forces by huddling inside an armored car. The incident is likely to deepen estrangement rather than bridge the gap. One person lost their life, and several others were injured. The situation could have been much worse had the CSO march entered Kuki-Zomi-Hmar territory.
As the adage goes, “It takes two to tango.” Imposing a superficial situation of ‘seeming normalcy’—without dialogue and settlement—is bound to fail when only one party is willing to participate.
Recent incidents have shown that some CSOs in Manipur have been highly irresponsible and murderous. Along with rogue elements, they have taken the law into their own hands by erecting roadblocks, stopping vehicles, checking passengers’ identities, dragging people out and lynching them, burning passengers inside ambulances, and committing heinous crimes such as brain-damaging assaults, cold-blooded murders, rape, and even decapitations.
The wounds of the ethnic conflict are too deep and too raw on both sides to be forgotten. Imposing free movement of people from warring communities through conflict zones is bound to fail without first reaching a compromise, understanding, and settlement. Forcing a community into submission through intimidation and state diktats—without offering a resolution to the crisis—will not be acceptable to those who perceive themselves as the main victims.
The administration under President’s Rule must take stern action to restore faith in the rule of law. It must show that it is in control by bringing those responsible for the carnage to justice. Politicians, bureaucrats, and police officers must be held accountable for their actions and inactions that led to deaths, destruction, and chaos. CSO leaders must be held accountable for their activities on the streets.
Several commissions and committees have been set up, but their reports are still awaited. A clear timeframe for report submissions and action plans is needed so that the families of victims and affected communities can find closure.
The Hon’ble Governor had asked a pertinent question: Why was the National Security Act (NSA) not used? That question sent shivers down many spines, as it could mean that CSO office bearers and radicalized non-state actors might find themselves transported by flight to jails outside the state. Only stern action, coupled with initiatives for dialogue, can bring back normalcy to Manipur. The memory of a Meitei youth who innocently ventured into Kuki-Zomi-Hmar territory—only to be taken hostage and exchanged for Kuki-Zomi-Hmar prisoners—is still fresh.
The trust deficit between the two warring communities has not been bridged, and no concrete initiative has been taken on this front. Few attempts for dialogue in Delhi were non-starters. CSOs in Manipur have demonstrated their ability to snatch away militants from security forces’ custody. Many people have stopped believing in the ‘rule of law’ because of the unchecked power of these CSOs.
Even with armed escorts, it is highly unlikely that members of either warring community will risk traveling through each other’s territories. The danger to their lives is simply too great, and they have no confidence that security forces can ensure their safety.
There should be no false illusion that hatred between the Meitei and Kuki-Zomi-Hmar communities has toned down under President’s Rule compared to the days of Shri N. Biren Singh’s government. It has not, and it will not change without dialogue.
Any CSO advocating a march into a conflict zone is being provocative, irresponsible, and reckless. Imagine a convoy of Kuki-Zomi-Hmar people marching through the Valley—would the dominant community tolerate such an intrusion without first reaching a compromise? The answer is self-evident.
This is not the time for foolhardy bravado or creating an illusion of ‘seeming normalcy.’ The Manipur crisis can only be solved through dialogue. While confidence-building measures and other efforts must continue, the importance of dialogue must be understood by all, especially CSOs, which have a vital role in restoring normalcy.
Delhi must recognise that while the people of Northeast India are resilient and can endure crises for long periods, allowing wounds to fester without healing creates the perfect breeding ground for extremist sentiments to grow. Given the fast-changing geopolitical environment of the region—surrounded by unstable neighbors and porous borders—Delhi must be convinced that the most pragmatic approach for resolving the Manipur crisis is to initiate closed-door dialogue to hammer out a lasting settlement.
Views expressed in the article are that of the author and do not reflect EastMojo’s stance on this or any other issue.
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