The alleged involvement of Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh in ethnic cleansing of the Kuki-Zo, including using police commandos (https://theprint.in/opinion/why-assam-rifles-vilification-is-a-calculated-conniving-move-for-revenge/1715034/), has been in the news since May 2023.

Ground sources had confirmed over 4,000 arms and ammunition “looted” from police/IRB armouries were “distributed” among  Meitei radicals and free run was given to Arambai Tenggol and ULFA militants (https://raksha-anirveda.com/is-manipur-headed-for-more-carnage/). Illegal immigrants were ineffectually blamed for Manipur violence (https://twitter.com/VishuAdv/status/1690259094756843520?t=a1AYGRL9nt5ls8sc8Cshyw&s=08), and more  (https://news4masses.com/macabre-indian-state-manipur/).

Sponsored propaganda against the Army/Assam Rifles (AR), falsely accusing them of siding with the Kuki-Zo has been ongoing. Meitei radicals rule the roost in Imphal Valley from where the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) was removed before May 2023.

Assam Rifles has been moved from violence-torn Churachandpur District (to J&K) despite mass protests by Kuki-Zo – viewed  deliberate move by latter, allowing Leishemba Sanajaoba (Rajya Sabha MP)-led Arambai Tenggol to attack them. Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi recently visited Manipur but he had to cancel his scheduled visit to Kangpokpi, Churachandpur and Moreh due to bad weather.

Incriminating audiotape

Now Biren Singh is supposedly caught on audiotape (https://thewire.in/video/watch-manipur-tapes-are-why-we-need-a-high-level-probe-into-state-bjp-govts-role-in-violence) proving his complicity in the ethnic cleansing; at a time that New Delhi has set up a Commission of Inquiry to look into the Manipur violence. The 48-mnute audiotape, released on social media, has been provided to the Commission of Inquiry.

Biren Singh says the audiotape is doctored, but 10 Kuki-Zo MLA’s, including two ministers in Biren Singh’s cabinet, issued a statement saying, “The complicity of the Chief Minister in the state-sponsored ethnic cleansing, which we have always maintained since day one, has now been established beyond an iota of doubt.” The tape shows the CM “candidly boasting about his role in the ethnic persecution of the tribal Kuki Zo community” and instructing police top brass to use bombs clandestinely.” 

They also demanded a speedy probe to expedite prosecution of CM Biren Singh “for his crimes if his guilt is established”; also calling for removal of the CM to prevent him “influencing the probe against him”.  

SoO agreement 

On August 24, 2024, Biren Singh said in a press conference  Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement was signed with some Kuki rebel groups to maintain peace in Manipur and improve law and order, however, some militant groups have violated the ground rules. He said he is approaching the Centre to withdraw the SoO from these groups.

The SoO agreement with 25 armed Kuki militant groups in Manipur was signed with the Central Government and the Manipur government in August 2008. However, the Manipur government arbitrarily withdrew from the tripartite SoO agreement on March 10, 2023, with two groups -  Kuki National Army (KNA) and Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA).

On August 26, 2024, Manipur Police arrested six cadres of the proscribed outfit Kanglei Yawol Kanba Lup (KYKL) from Awang Potsangbam in Manipur’s Imphal West district, recovering three gun scopes, military fatigues, ammunition and a four-wheeler. Raiding some locations, police also recovered one single-barrel and one double-barrel gun, three magazines of AK-47 with 75 rounds and seven walkie-talkie sets (https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/manipur/six-militants-arrested-in-manipur/article68571367.ece).

It is difficult to judge whether the above action against the KYKL was genuine or an orchestrated PR exercise. It is on record that Manipur MLA Thaounaojam Shyamkumar Singh, heading a mob of 1200-1500 women, forced an Indian Army Infantry column to release 12 armed KYKL terrorists in Itham Village on June 24, 2023, which included the mastermind of an ambush, killing 18 Army soldiers on June 4, 2015. The politico-terrorist MLA later said he was only present in the area in his capacity as MLA (sic); he obviously had the backing of Biren Singh and also the Centre (https://www.spsmai.com/experts-speak/?id=1357&q=Setback-to-Army-in-Counter-Insurgency).   

Now New Delhi is reviewing ground rules applicable to the Kuki-Zo groups in Manipur, which are in the tripartite SoO agreement. One of the measures proposed is removal of SoO camps close to the Imphal Valley (by force?).  Biren Sigh of course wants SoO withdrawn from all 25 militant groups, which will unleash a bigger wave of violence.   

Meanwhile, Seilen Haikop, spokesperson and senior leader of the Kuki National Organization (KNO), told the media that the Union Home Ministry is yet to list and convey the violations of ground rules committed by Kuki-Zo. He also said the Kuki-Zo-Hmar groups are not “secessionists”, “their demand for a political solution of a separate administration in Manipur was within the Constitution, and they should not be labeled anti-India.”   

Compounding errors

Obviously, Biren Singh’s involvement in ethnic cleansing was known to New Delhi. BJP’s Subramanian Swamy wrote in his characteristic style that Biren Singh should be sacked and Amit Shah transferred to the sports ministry! But this is also why RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat asked the government to resolve the Manipur situation.

The ethnic cleansing under Biren Singh’s watch broke all records – Kuki-Zo women paraded naked and subjected to mass rape publicly, with some token FIRs. This is also viewed as the reason why Prime Minister Narendra Modi has avoided visiting violence-stricken Manipur in the past 16 months.

Biren Singh doesn’t acknowledge the existence of Arambai Tenggol. But by treating him as the blue-eyed and giving a free hand to Leishemba Sanajaoba, the central government has landed itself in a mess of its own making.

Some sources close to the political apex say having faltered in imposing President Rule in Manipur, the government fears if they do so in West Bengal their compounding errors in Manipur would explode in their face. 

Peace in Manipur is impossible unless the Modi government sincerely wants and enforces it.

(The author is an Indian Army veteran. Views are personal)