Evening daily
Imphal Times
Regd.No. MANENG /2013/51092
HIF launches “Project Buniyaad-Aathmanirbharta Ka Aadhar”
We are facing hard times today, but we can’t
let these hardships ruin our future - CM Biren
IT News
Imphal, Feb 12:
Despite the ongoing crisis
in Manipur, which began on
May 3, 2023, the Chief Minis-
ter is confident that the situa-
tion will normalize soon. He
believes that the Central gov-
ernment understands the crux
of the problem and has indi-
cated its commitment to re-
storing peace.
“While we struggle to pro-
tect our identity and fight for
our survival, we are also tak-
ing up developmental works
for our children and future
Oldest paramilitary force in country blighted by
new questions in Manipur
Courtesy: Hindustan Times
New Delhi, Feb 12:
India’s oldest paramilitary
force, the Assam Rifles, finds
itself haunted by new ques-
tions in crisis-hit Manipur,
where ethnic violence that
erupted in May 2023 has left
hundreds of people dead and
tens of thousands displaced,
and where the force that dates
back to 1835 is fighting allega-
tions of discrimination against
the Meitei community.
The role of the Assam
Rifles in the Northeastern state
returned to the spotlight three
weeks ago when a radical
Meitei group demanded its
withdrawal from Manipur, while
Kukis sought to nip any such
move, exposing deep fissures
in Manipuri politics and soci-
Manipur Social Crisis: Nonexistence of Moral Responsibility and Economic Sense
By Amar Yumnam
Imphal, Feb 12:
As citizens of Manipur, we
have been naturally con-
cerned about what has been
happening here during the last
nearly a year. Reminds me of
what Adam Smith (the Father
of Economics) stated in the
very first para of his 1759 book
on The Theory of Moral Sen-
timents: “How selfish so ever
man may be supposed, there
are evidently some principles
in his nature, which interest
him in the fortune of others,
and render their happiness
necessary to him, though he
derives nothing from it except
the pleasure of seeing it. Of
this kind is pity or compas-
sion, the emotion which we
feel for the misery of others,
generations,” said N. Biren
Singh during the launch of
Project Buniyaad – the scrapping of the Free
Aathmanirbharta Ka Aadhar.
This project is funded by the
Honda India Foundation (HIF)
and took place at Hotel Clas-
sic Grande in Imphal.
“We are currently facing
difficult times due to the neg-
ligence or perhaps ignorance
of some of our past political
leaders. However, we cannot
blame them. Instead, we are
working to correct their mis-
takes,” said N. Biren confi-
dently, referring to the central
government’s initiatives to
ety that have obstructed peace.
At a meeting called by the
radical Meitei group Arambai
Tenggol in Imphal on January
24, as many as 36 Meitei legis-
lators and two MPs took an
oath to protect Manipur’s in-
tegrity and signed a memoran-
dum to be sent to the Centre.
Among the six demands in the
oath was the removal of Assam
Rifles from Manipur.
The Kukis reacted in less
than 24 hours, with a demand
of their own.
On January 25, 10 Kuki
MLAs wrote to home minister
Amit Shah about the meeting
called by the Meitei radical
group and the demands of the
Meitei legislators to replace
Assam Rifles with another
force. The Kuki MLAs made a
request too — the Assam
when we either see it, or are
made to conceive it in a very
lively manner. That we often
derive sorrow from the sorrow
of others, is a matter of fact
too obvious to require any in-
stances to prove it; for this
sentiment, like all the other
original passions of human
nature, is by no means con-
fined to the virtuous and hu-
mane, though they perhaps
may feel it with the most ex-
quisite sensibility. The great-
est ruffian, the most hardened
violator of the laws of society,
is not altogether without it.”
This is the fourth piece on the
current Manipur Crisis follow-
ing up on the earlier three –
First on the absolute disap-
pearance of the provincial
government, second on the
absence of any policy either
Volume 8, Issue 732, Monday, February 12, 2024
fence the porous border be-
tween Myanmar and India and
Movement Regime (FMR).
“I am attending this pro-
gram because I understand its
importance, where it is nearly
impossible to provide white-
collar jobs to every youth,”
added the Chief Minister, who
is actively engaged in resolv-
ing the crisis and monitoring
the situation. He believes that
the future of Manipur is in safe
hands.
The Project aims to pro-
vide jobs to over 1000 youths
in various hospitality sectors,
Rifles should stay put in the
state for the safety of the
tribals.
The ethnic clashes and the
turn of events in Manipur,
which have left at least 210
people dead and around 50,000
displaced, have driven a wedge
between the people over the
role of the Assam Rifles, whose
responsibilities include
counterterrorism operations in
the Northeast and Jammu and
Kashmir, and guarding the In-
dia-Myanmar border that
passes through Manipur,
Mizoram, Nagaland and
Arunachal Pradesh. Twenty
Assam Rifles battalions are
deployed along the border.
The Assam Rifles can also
be called to assist the army in
warlike situations. It took part
in the two world wars, the 1962
by the Provincial or the Union
government to address the
crisis, and the third on why the
Centre cares a hoot for what
happens in Manipur.
The present piece too is
on the existing social crisis in
Manipur. In this I plan to talk
of the lack of moral responsi-
bility in the thinking of the
political (hence government)
leadership, and second on the
flooding of the Imphal valley
by horticulture products.
The moral responsibility
of the political and govern-
mental leadership has no time
limits for it applies to all the
twenty-fours of a day and 365
days of a year though there
could be variations in the
depth of requirements. It must
be emphasised here that the
moral responsibility of the
including airports and five-
star hotels. The Chief Minis-
ter expressed his excitement
about this ambitious project,
as it will greatly enhance skill
development and employment
in the hospitality sector
among the youth. Manipur
and the rest of Northeast In-
dia have immense potential for
growth in various sectors.
With the right guidance and
proper training, the youth can
lead positive change and de-
velopment.
The launching program of
Project Buniyaad was at-
tended by RD & PR Minister
Khemchand, Additional Chief
Secretary MH Khan, Vinay
Dhingra (Trustee, Honda In-
dia Foundation), and other
dignitaries.
Speaking at the event,
Vinay Dhingra, Trustee of
Honda India Foundation,
said, “Education and skill de-
velopment go hand in hand
with our dedication to
inclusivity and align perfectly
with our long-term mission of
becoming a ‘Company that
Society wants to Exist’.
contd. on page 2
war with China and the 1971
India-Pakistan war. It was also
a part of Indian Peace Keep-
ing Force (IPKF) in Sri Lanka
in the late 1980s.
Serving Assam Rifles per-
sonnel on the ground and the
army’s former top command-
ers who HT spoke to believe a
variety of reasons are behind
the attempts to tarnish the
Assam Rifles’s image, includ-
ing a controversial past, a
possible administrative mis-
calculation to post the force
near Kuki areas and a false
narrative set by militants from
both sides.
“A strict teacher is not
liked by the students,” said a
senior officer, who is posted in
Manipur and learnt his trade
operating in the Northeast.
contd. on page 2
government is absolutely
multi-dimensional extending to
every aspect of human exist-
ence – psychological, social,
political, economic and what
not. The need for application
of this moral responsibility can
vary depending upon the na-
ture characterising social func-
tioning and interactions, and
more so in a diverse one. When
the sabotages and killings in-
creasingly intensified in
Manipur in the ongoing crisis,
the government should have
arisen to the occasion to at-
tend to the responsibility to
protect; this protection prin-
ciple applies to both the at-
tacker and the attacked. Even
further, going much beyond
the protection efforts, it is the
moral responsibility of the
governmental leadership to
Maliyapham Palcha kumsing 3421
AMUCO Observes 31st Foundation Day
Central Govt. watching
torching of our houses as
Diwali lights – Nando Luwang
IT News
Imphal, Feb 12:
The ongoing crisis in the
state of Manipur, which has
lasted for over nine months,
seems to be enjoyed by the
central government, accord-
ing to Nando Luwang, Presi-
dent of the All Manipur United
Club Organisation (AMUCO).
He made these remarks during
the organization’s 31st Foun-
dation Day held at Kwakeithel.
Nando Luwang elaborated
on how AMUCO has been
working towards building a
peaceful atmosphere by unit-
ing all the communities of the
state. He stated that the cen-
tral government appears to
derive pleasure from the burn-
ing of houses in Manipur,
Mission: Makaam Kamthao dikho, launches
IT News
Imphal Feb 12:
Makaam Youth
Organisation (MYO) orga-
nized a child advocacy pro-
gram called ‘Mission: Makaam
Kamthao dikho’.
The Miss io n aim s a t
adopting Makaam School
Student who are helpless but
who really wanted to con-
tinue their s tudies. As a
starter for the academic ses-
sion 2024-2025 MYO in Col-
initiate application of mind
searching for the causes
arousing and then sustaining
the fights between the two
parties. Till today the govern-
ment keeps blaming and ap-
pealing to both the ethnicities
to stop and maintain peace,
but the problems continue.
Since the fights get sustained,
the causes too are still alive
What I am most afraid – as
a Social Scientist who has
been taking keen interest on
Manipur for almost four de-
cades -is that:
1. The traditional modes of
interaction and interdepen-
dence have undergone a
change and some kind of com-
petition and efficiency have
arisen across the diverse eth-
nic groups;
2. If this has happened, the
www.imphaltimes.com
much like the lights of the
Diwali festival.
“The cries of the people
affected by the crisis are being
heard by the government of
India as entertaining songs,”
Nando said. He added that the
central government seems to be
waiting for more lives to be
sacrificed in this ongoing cri-
sis. He revealed that over a
thousand lives, both Naga
and Kuki, have been lost, and
the government of India
seems to be waiting for the
death toll to rise in this cur-
rent crisis. Nando also men-
tioned that during the bloody
clashes of the early 90s, the
government of India did noth-
ing to put an end to the vio-
lence. He expressed his anger
towards the government, stat-
laboration with Berean En-
glish School, Khumji and
Sharon Engl is h Sc ho ol,
Longma i has d ecided to
adopt two students, one stu-
d en t ea ch b y th es e two
Schools. Berean English
School and Sharon English
has generously offered to
give free education inclusive
of the boarding facilities till
these students pass out their
matriculation. MYO, on the
other hand will look into the
requirement such as Books,
consequence would be that
each ethnic group would de-
velop different forms of moral
judgements in which case the
subjective and the objective
dimensions would acquire dif-
ferences despite certain com-
mon legacies; certain subjec-
tive elements of the Kukis may
not be so for the Meeteis, and
certain objective properties of
the Meeteis may not be so for
the Kukis; and
3. The ultimate result
would be that each ethnic
group would develop Ethics
of their own - what Anthony
Cortese calls Ethnic Ethics.
The continuous accusa-
tions - even unabashed in
some cases –make it look like
that such a situation has
emerged in Manipur. In such
circumstances, the sole moral
Rs.2/-
ing that they are behaving in
the same manner today.
“The present crisis is not
a simple game orchestrated by
the government of India. They
are playing this game, waiting
for more people to die and
more houses to be destroyed
and burned,” Nando told the
gathering with fury.
Addressing the Kuki Zo
community directly, the
AMUCO President stated that
their movement will not be ac-
cepted by the people of
Manipur, as their claims are not
supported by history.
“Your demand is not sup-
ported by history, culture, ge-
ography, or even anthropol-
ogy,” Nando said to the Kuki-
Zo warmongers and narco-ter-
rorists.
Uniform and other necessity
including financial assis-
tance when required.
Makaam Youth
Organisation is a philanthropic
and non-profit civil
organisation purely engaged
in charitable and humanitarian
services. MYO is comprised
of youths from the four cog-
nate tribes of Zemei, Liangmai,
Rongmei and Inpui. The
organisation firmly believes in
social and cultural upliftment
of the community.
responsibility of the political
leadership is to evolve a strat-
egy for Political Reconciliation
founded on moral perspec-
tives. Has any attempt made
in Manipur in this regard?
The second issue I wish to
take up relates to an economic
one. My second daughter is
coming from Imphal to my cur-
rent place. In this connection,
my family is flooded with two
questions: (a) My daughter
asking what vegetables to
bring; and (b) all my relatives
and friends enquiring what
vegetables we want to have.
These two queries are coupled
by a particular friend inform-
ing me that the Imphal valley
lanes are flooded with sea-
sonal vegetables at prices
unprecedentedly low.
contd. on page 2
Imphal Times
Contd. from yesterday
Educated elites or leaders
in the 1940s realised the need
to have community represen-
tations and build a political
united front. On Sunday, No-
vember 30, 1947, an Organising
Committee of community
organisations was formed to
constitute a united front. The
Committee was composed of;
(a) M.K. Shimray of Tangkhul
Long, (b) Luneh of Kuki Na-
tional Assembly, (c) Kakhangai
of Kabui Association, (d) Teba
Kilong of Khulmee Union, (e)
Dena of Mizo Union, (f) Srijut
Ibomcha of Manipur Krishak
Sabha, (g) Ibungohal of
Nongpok Apunba Marup, (h)
H. Irabot of Manipur Praja
Sanggha, and (i) Sulei Mia of
Yairipok. The Committee
elected Hijam Irabot as the
Chairman and Mr. M.K.
Shimray as the Secretary. Mean-
while, the ratio of representa-
tives to be elected to Manipur
Assembly was fixed at 30 for
the valley, 18 for hills, 3 for
Pangal community, and 1 each
for Education and Commerce
and Industry—thus a total of
53 MLAs to be elected by
people. The Assembly of the
Republic of Manipur, inaugu-
rated on October 18, 1948, was
More News
Recovery of Arms and Honda India Foundation (HIF) has launched...
War Like Stores in
Joint Operation by AR
and Manipur Police Manipur Social Crisis: Nonexistence of Moral Responsibility...
IT News
Imphal, Feb 12:
Based on specific inputs a
joint column of Assam Rifles
and Manipur police launched
a search operation in
Sangaikot area of
Churachandpur District of
Manipur on February 10.
RPF rescues 47 minors,
8 women in 39 days
Agency
Guwahati, Feb 12:
The Railway Protection
Force (RPF) of the Northeast
Frontier Railway (NF Railway)
has successfully rescued as
many as six minors and two
women during ongoing check-
ing and drives conducted be-
tween Tuesday (February 6)
and Thursday (February 8) at
different trains and railway
stations under the jurisdiction
of the NF Railway.
During January this year,
the RPF of NF Railway rescued
a total of 41 minors and six
women leading to the arrest of
two human traffickers.
The rescued children and
women were later handed over
to respective Non-Govern-
mental Organisations (NGOs),
parents and the Government
Railway Police (GRP).
In an incident on Wednes-
day (February 7), personnel of
the RPF rescued two runaway
minors along with a woman
from the Rangapara North junc-
tion railway station in Assam’s
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Edited by Rinku Khumukcham, Owned and Published by Iboyaima Khuman at Keishamthong Elangbam Leikai, Imphal and Printed by him at M/s Imphal Times Printers, Elangbam Leikai Imphal West, Contact No. 2452159, Resident Editor- Jeet Akoijam
Demographic Influx and Threat to Indigenous People
represented by members
elected through universal fran-
chise. The idea of “one people”
was firmly established.
7. Why Demographic In-
flux Since 1949?
1949 was a crucial, rather
unfortunate juncture for the in-
digenous people of Manipur.
On October 15, 1949, Manipur
was taken over by the Domin-
ion of India after extracting,
under duress, the controversial
“Manipur Merger Agreement”
on 21 September 1949.
Manipur’s nascent democracy
was abolished, and India’s
Central Rule was imposed.
Thereafter, Manipur was no
longer protected from the un-
regulated influx of migrants
from other parts of India and
neighbouring countries as well.
Before 1949, Manipur had a
permit system since 1897. The
Foreigner’s Department regu-
lated the exit and entry of for-
eigners. On the eve of Indepen-
dence, Manipur Naturalisation
Act, 1947 was adopted to dif-
ferentiate foreigners from citi-
zens and to regulate the form-
ers’ entry and exit. However,
Manipur could not withstand
the Dominion of India’s poli-
cies. The Dominion of India
opened up the floodgate of mi-
gration. As a result, Manipur
The search operation lead
to recovery of total 13 weap-
ons including one Tear Gas
Gun, two 9 mm pistols along
with magazines, six single bar-
rel rifles and four improvised
heavy mortars. The recovered
weapons and war like stores
have been handed over to
Sangaikot Police.
Sonitpur district.
On Tuesday, RPF teams of
Assam’s New Bongaigaon
junction railway station and
Tripura’s Dharmanagar rail-
way station, while conducting
checks, rescued two minors,
one each from the respective
railway stations. Later, the res-
cued minor children were
handed over to an NGO and
parents.
On Thursday, personnel of
RPF rescued a runaway
woman from the Chaparmukh
junction railway station in
Assam’s Nagaon district.
Preventive measures are
being taken to take action in
case children are in need of care
and protection found in trains
and railway premises.
The RPF carries on a re-
lentless fight against crimi-
nals in protecting railway pas-
sengers and remains vigilant
for suspected persons in-
volved in human trafficking as
well as the movement of chil-
dren in a suspicious manner
travelling alone without a
guardian.
Silent Invasion in Manipur
suddenly became a fertile terri-
tory for new settler colonies.
The reasons are many.
First, unrestrained migra-
tion from other parts of India
has all along been encouraged
to serve India’s humanitarian
and integrity interests. For in-
stance, on August 25, 1949, the
Dominion of India’s reform of-
ficer PC Deb issued a notice to
enrol Mayang refugees in the
electoral roll of Manipur. The
notice says, “pursuant to the
decision of the Government of
India that refugees from Paki-
stan will be provisionally reg-
istered in the Electoral Roll of
the House of People on a dec-
laration by them of their inten-
tion to reside permanently in
the locality to which the Elec-
toral Roll relates, … the five
Tahsildars of the Manipur val-
ley and the Mauzadar of Jiribam
(were empowered) for the ac-
ceptance of such declaration
from bonafide refugees resid-
ing in their respective jurisdic-
tion.”
On October 15, 1949, the
Dominion of India took over
Manipur and abolished the Re-
sponsible Government. It di-
rectly ruled Manipur for many
years. On October 9, 1950, the
Centre’s Chief Commissioner
Himmat Singh told the Advi-
We are proud to launch
Project Buniyaad today, which
focuses on skill development in
the Hospitality Sector for youths
from marginalized communities.
These low prices facilitate
the customers at a time when
earning opportunities are dis-
tressed by the social crises
happening while the farmers
get their income lowered than
usual and expected – there
could be even losses for some
Oldest paramilitary force in country blighted...
“We followed the law. In the
initial months after the clashes
erupted, Kuki militant groups,
who are under the Suspension
of Operations (SoO) agreement,
were not part of the violence,”
he explained, asking not to be
named.
To be sure, some SoO mili-
tants also joined the conflict later.
“But the valley-based mili-
tant groups were active. When
our personnel stopped such
militants and chased them back,
they mischievously started a
narrative about the force being
biased. The protests began
sometime in June-July last year.”
The Assam Rifles has a
sanctioned strength of almost
67,000 personnel.
The administrative control
of the force is with the Union
ministry of home affairs, while
its officers are drawn from the
Indian Army. Over the years the
force has been more active in
Manipur and Nagaland because
of the insurgent groups there
and cross-border smuggling.
While the Assam Rifles has
played a key role in bringing
peace to the region, the force has
also had its brushes with con-
troversy.
In July 2004, 12 Meitei
women stripped outside
Imphal’s iconic Kangla fort to
protest the killing of a 32-year-
old Meitei woman, Thangjam
Manorama, who they alleged
By: Dr. Malem Ningthouja
sory Council of Manipur, “As
an agent of the Government of
India, I am here to execute the
policies and instructions of the
Government of India … People
of other parts of India can no
longer be treated as foreigners
and discriminatory treatment
against them is neither possible
nor wise”. On November 18,
1950, he abolished the pre-ex-
isting permit system that had
been regulating the entry and
exit of migrants. The abolition
opened up the floodgate of
unrestrained influx of migrants,
particularly Mayang mer-
chants, labour, government ser-
vants and others.
Second, Manipur has not
been fully protected from ille-
gal immigration from
neighbouring countries such as
Burma (Myanmar),
Bangladesh, and Nepal. It is the
result of many interplaying fac-
tors. However, the Govern-
ment of India has been trying
to cover up the realities with
false stories. For instance, the
Government says that it has
adopted a multi-pronged ap-
proach to ensure effective
surveillance and domination
of land borders to check the
infiltration of illegal migrants.
It says that physical infra-
structure in the form of border
Contd. from Page 1
With Project Buniyaad, we envi-
sion a brighter future for the
youth of Manipur, where learn-
ing knows no bounds and op-
portunities are limitless. We sin-
or many on their investment.
These have happened because
the usual flows to the moun-
tain markets of Manipur have
not taken place negatively af-
fecting the welfare levels on
both sides.
I have taken up the above
was gang-raped and murdered
by Assam Rifles personnel. Al-
legations of extra-judicial kill-
ings have also cast a shadow
over the force’s role.
Lieutenant General Konsam
Himalay Singh (retd), who has
had four tenures in the north-
east region, said the latest con-
troversy could be “historically
and psychologically linked” to
the past. It may have started
with a security decision too, he
said.
“When the so-called buffer
zones (sensitive zones) were set
up last year, the Assam Rifles
was mostly located closer on the
side adjacent to the adjoining
hills dominated by a few Kuki
tribes, while CAPF/state police
forces were seen alongside the
valley villages. This could have
also led to some affected parties
perceiving the force is close to
the Kukis.”
Singh also attributed the
controversy to the prevailing cli-
mate of suspicion, fear and un-
certainty thereby magnifying
every friction on the ground “
“Some elements on both
sides have also made attempts
to portray the forces as partial
and project armed civilian volun-
teers as saviours. The entire
force shouldn’t be targeted be-
cause of isolated incidents.”
Assam Rifles personnel said
the criminal groups used women
to block roads and interfere in the
fencing, floodlighting, con-
struction of border roads and
establishment of border out-
posts had been created. The
truth is that the Passport (En-
try into India) Act, 1920, Regis-
tration of Foreigners Act, 1939,
Foreigners Act, 1946, Citizen-
ship Act, 1955, and rules and
orders made thereunder have
never been strictly enforced
with adequate infrastructure,
manpower, intelligence and ef-
forts to prevent, detect, and
deport illegal migrants. Mean-
while, the informal or formal
policy of “free movement re-
gime” for trans-border commu-
nities has been directly or indi-
rectly promoting infiltration by
illegal immigrants.
The government of India’s
foreign refugee dealing system
has been lopsided. It has been
showing indifference to the
United Nations Convention re-
lating to the Status of Refugees
(1951), and its Additional Pro-
tocol (1967). It also lacks a “na-
tional” refugee protection legal
framework. All of these have
been indirectly contributing to
the clandestine infiltration of
refugees. For instance, the bur-
den of dealing with refugees in
the border States in Northeast
India has been left to the per-
sonal or communal sentiment
cerely believe that by investing
in skill development, we are also
investing in self-development
and societal development.”
Under this program, unem-
two characteristically differ-
ent but virtually related is-
sues to highlight one facet of
the government in place
wh ich is n ot t he one
characterising an administra-
tion committed to attending
to the moral responsibility of
force’s operations.
“Women, especially the eld-
erly, were put in front of mobs to
stop the security forces. This was
carefully done by the criminal el-
ements to ensure that the forces
did not reach the crime spots on
time. There are so many viral
photos of elderly women refus-
ing to let the forces move ahead.
Our food trucks were robbed too.
At some places such women pro-
testers even demanded identity
card of the Assam Rifles person-
nel before letting them move in
the villages. But our boys exer-
cised restraint. There was not a
single controversy,” said a sec-
ond officer, who also asked not
to be named.
On July 26, the army released
a video calling out women pro-
testers for blocking routes and
interfering in operations.
“The residents do not have
a problem. They saw how the
force rescued both communities.
The Assam Rifles personnel also
helped people who were unwell
at the relief camps. At least four
children must have been born in
such relief camps. Another rea-
son why there are protests is
because the force is actively re-
covering drugs and weapons
from the criminals,” the second
officer said.
But even nine months after
the clashes began, there are
Meira Paibis (Meitei women) who
continue to guard roads because
of powerful politicians and bu-
reaucrats. Initiatives from inter-
national humanitarian bodies
came too late and have been
lopsided. For instance, the
United Nations High Commis-
sioner for Refugees became
operative in India very lately in
1981. Unfortunately, the Office
for Refugee Status Determina-
tion is located in faraway New
Delhi. It has no office in the
border States where the prob-
lems of refugees require imme-
diate attention. Refugee status
could not be immediately de-
termined at the right time and
place. There has been a lack of
viable shelters that might have
attracted voluntary admission
of refugees for security and
opportunities. Therefore, refu-
gees (e.g., Kuki who fled Burma
during the instabilities in the
1960s, 1988, and 2021 on-
wards), without being officially
detected and confined in shel-
ters, have illegally infiltrated
and settled permanently under
the cover of community or eth-
nic affinity.
There have been vested in-
terests of host communities that
have been promoting illegal
immigrants. Several hordes of
illegal immigrants have been
welcomed, accommodated,
covered up, and assimilated by
ployed youth will receive two
months of training in Hospitality
Management from the Visan
Foundation. Upon completion,
they will receive certification from
governance. The inter-ethnic
conflict is an opportunity for
a conscientious government
to evolve a Robust and Sus-
tainable Inter-Ethnic Policy
founded on a moral perspec-
tive. The vegetable price
crash is also a situation de-
they say they do not trust the
Assam Rifles. On the Imphal-
Bishnupur highway, Meira Paibis
sit in tents and keep the area un-
der watch through the night,
people aware of the matter said.
“I was a part of the 2004 pro-
test when the 12 women stripped
in Imphal in 2004. We do not trust
the Assam Rifles. They have al-
ways helped Kukis. So every
night, at least one woman from
each household leaves their
house and joins the others in
standing guard. The Kuki groups
may attack anytime. The state
police is not equipped so we sit
guard and inform our volunteers
the moment anyone spots armed
Kuki militants,” said Sylvis, the
head of the Meira Paibi group at
the Uripok
Lam b oi kh o ngnan gkh on g
Imphal village near Imphal.
But experts reiterate the force
is doing its best and the ques-
tion of replacing the force does
not arise.
The call to remove the Assam
Rifles from Manipur is unrealis-
tic, said Lieutenant General
Shokin Chauhan (retd), a former
director general of the force.
“The Assam Rifles is an all-
India, all-class force and does not
discriminate against any commu-
nity,” said Chauhan, who has
also served as the chairman of
the Ceasefire Monitoring Group
responsible for implementing
ceasefire ground rules between
Page No. 2
hosts on the grounds of com-
munity affiliation. The hosts
have been helping illegal mi-
grants by manufacturing
forged documents to unscru-
pulously obtain citizenship
cards and other opportunities.
This trend has been particu-
larly prevalent among Kuki
whose vested elites have de-
mographic, territorial, eco-
nomic, and political objectives
of transplanting illegal Kuki
migrants from Burma
(Myanmar) into Manipur.
Kuki chiefs (semi-feudal land-
lords or landed chieftains)
have been using Kuki mi-
grants as either cheap labour
or tenants. Migrants, who
subsequently became Sched-
uled Tribes, added to Kuki’s
manpower that in turn has
been instrumental in land grab-
bing or territorial occupation,
enlarging communal vote
banks, and devising commu-
nally motivated political pres-
sures. The wealthier and more
educated sections have been
grabbing political power and
key positions in bureaucracy.
They have been abusing
power and manipulating the
system to perpetuate the pe-
rennial infiltration of cross-
border illegal immigrants.
to be continued
the Tourism & Hospitality Skill
Council. An MoU was also
signed between the Honda In-
dia Foundation and the Govern-
ment of Manipur.
manding how to protect the
interest of the farmers with-
out fully compromising the
benefit to the customers. My
poor visibility has failed to
see any effort in any of these
directions by the political
leadership in power.
the Centre and Naga insurgent
groups, he added.
Assam Rifles personnel said
the situation along the India-
Myanmar border would improve
significantly in the backdrop of
the government’s suspension of
the free movement regime (FMR),
which allowed people from both
sides of the frontier to travel 16km
into each other’s territory with-
out paperwork.
Last week, Union home min-
ister Amit Shah said the Centre is
set to build a border fence along
the India-Myanmar border. The
1,643-km border, of which only
10km is fenced, is used by smug-
glers and insurgent groups from
across the border. Over the last
four years, the force has seized
drugs worth at least Rs. 4,500
crore, mainly sourced from
Myanmar, according to official
data.
“Our force does not report
to the state government. The
massive crackdown on drugs by
us does hurt the local criminal el-
ements. Some of these criminal
elements are influential. They
want the force to be removed from
Manipur. Manipur police are also
not biased. But almost 90% of
people in the state police will be
locals so these criminal elements
want to have a force where the
personnel are locals. They may
believe that it is easier to influ-
ence a state force,” said a third
officer.