Manipur witnesses a surge in unrest after the killings of six Meitei civilians, including a child, spark outrage in Imphal. Protests target ministers, while political divisions widen with the NPP withdrawing support from the BJP-led government. Amid calls for action against insurgents, CM Biren Singh scrambles to maintain order in a state on the brink.
BY PC Bureau
Efforts by Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh to quell Meitei protesters’ anger met resistance on Tuesday when the Co-ordination Committee for Manipur Unity (COCOMI), a prominent Meitei organization, rejected resolutions passed during a meeting of 26 NDA MLAs.
Speaking in Imphal, COCOMI spokesperson Khuraijam Athouba stated that the resolutions partially addressed Meitei demands, which focus on scrapping the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with Kuki insurgent groups. Athouba emphasized that Meitei organizations want action against all Kuki insurgent groups implicated in recent violence, not just those involved in the killing of six women and children in Jiribam. “We demand a review of the resolutions within 24 hours, failing which protests will intensify,” he warned.
The meeting adopted eight resolutions, including a call for the withdrawal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), the declaration of Kuki insurgents responsible for the Jiribam killings as unlawful within a week, and the transfer of three cases to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Protests Erupt Over Killings in Jiribam
The Meitei-majority Valley, including the state capital Imphal, erupted in protests on Saturday after the bodies of six Meitei victims, including an eight-month-old child, were found in a Jiribam river. The six had gone missing following a gunfight near Borobekra police station and a nearby CRPF camp on November 11. Meitei groups accused Kuki insurgents of abducting and killing the victims.
Protesters targeted the homes of several ministers and MLAs, with some residences set ablaze, accusing the BJP-led state government of failing to rescue the victims. On Sunday, the crisis deepened when the National People’s Party (NPP), a key ally of the BJP, withdrew support from Biren Singh’s government, calling for his removal.
Political Turmoil
Biren Singh convened an emergency meeting of NDA MLAs on Sunday night, but the absence of at least 21 legislators, including 15 from the BJP, dealt a severe blow to his leadership. While eight MLAs cited medical reasons, 11, including cabinet minister Y. Khemchand, abstained without explanation. The meeting saw attendance from only 26 MLAs, including 17 from the BJP and five from the Naga People’s Front (NPF). Surprisingly, three NPP MLAs attended despite the party’s withdrawal of support.
Adding to the turmoil, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleged on Tuesday that signatures of three MLAs marked as present at the meeting were forged. Former Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram also criticized Biren Singh, holding him responsible for the violence. Singh countered, accusing the Congress of enabling illegal migration from Myanmar, which he claimed has fueled the conflict and endangered the indigenous Meitei population.
Security Measures
As tensions simmered, the situation in the Valley remained calm on Tuesday, with no reports of fresh violence. The Ministry of Home Affairs deployed 50 additional central paramilitary companies, with two groups arriving by air to bolster security in the region.
The ongoing crisis underscores the fragile state of Manipur’s political and social fabric, with unresolved ethnic tensions and political divisions threatening stability in the region.
