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Manipur : Eight militant outfits raise white flag |
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At least eight militant organisations in Manipur have indicated their readiness to raise white flag and have entered into an understanding with the security forces to cease hostilities. This was stated by Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee while addressing a Press conference in Imphal last week. He said : “Eight armed groups have entered into an arrangement with the security forces deployed in the state to suspend operations against each other and also cease hostilities. We are hopeful that more groups will follow suit.”
However, he did not disclose the names of the outfits, but said the government was taken into confidence in this regard.
The Defence Minister, however, flatly rejected the United National Liberation Front (UNLF)’s proposal to hold a plebiscite under the supervision of the United Nations to end the ongoing armed conflict in Manipur. That (plebiscite) is not possible.
He blamed the Manipur government for delaying the Army inquiry into the Thangjam Manorama case, whose death in Assam Rifles custody in July last year triggered a violent agitation against the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act.
Turf war in militant groups
Meanwhile, the state is witnessing a major turf war between the big guns of militancy in the Northeast with the NSCN (Isak-Muivah) accusing Meitei and Kuki militants of indiscriminate attacks on Naga residents of Manipur. The organisation, which is engaged in a dialogue for peace with Delhi, named the Manipur People’s Liberation Front, a conglomerate of three major militant groups, as the mastermind of the campaign against the Naga community in Chandel district.
A statement issued by the NSCN (I-M)’s information and publicity wing said militants of the People’s Liberation Army and the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) were even using landmines to kill Nagas.
The group raised similar allegations against the Kukis, another tribe inhabiting the area. It said Kukis were harbouring members of the UNLF and its allies. It also accused Assam Rifles personnel deployed in the area of turning a blind eye to intimidation of Naga villagers.
A third incident in Sainam village, the NSCN (I-M) said, involved Kuki militants. It said Kuki gunmen fired indiscriminately at Naga passengers travelling in a Tata Sumo. A woman was seriously injured in the firing.
The militant group urged security forces to investigate the alleged attacks on Naga civilians in Manipur.
Intelligence sources said the hostility between Meitei militants and the NSCN (I-M) had increased since the economic blockade by a Naga student organisation. The NSCN (I-M) is suspected of instigating the All Naga Students’ Association of Manipur to block the NH 39 (Imphal-Kohima road), which is the state’s main lifeline.
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