Has the Manipur Government Lost Control?

Urgent Intervention Needed from the Central Government

Newsreel Asia Insight #114
Jan. 27, 2024

The charred remains of a house belonging to a Kuki-Zo family in Imphal, Manipur. Photo by Vishal Arora

The Manipur government appears to have yielded to the demands of an armed Meitei militia, Arambai Tenggol, marking a significant shift in the region’s power dynamics. It’s a glaring indication of the state government’s inability to maintain control and enforce the rule of law, which can have far-reaching implications, both for the state and for the broader national framework.

Members of the Arambai Tenggol, which has allegedly been involvement in violence against the Kuki-Zo tribal community since May 2023, summoned all Meitei legislators to Kangla, a historic site symbolising ancient Meitei power in the capital city of Imphal, on Jan. 24, as reported by Scroll.in, Deccan Herald and many other media outlets.

The meeting was attended by 37 Members of the Legislative Assembly and two Members of Parliament. These lawmakers are from various political parties, including the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress and the Janata Dal (United). In a blatant display of power, the Arambai Tenggol’s leadership entered Kangla, while their cadres, dressed in military fatigues and brandishing arms, took over the streets of Imphal. The Manipur police, seemingly powerless, allowed the group to conduct its proceedings.

The meeting saw the lawmakers being coerced into endorsing the militia’s demands. These included updates to the National Register of Citizens, abrogation of agreements with Kuki-Zo armed groups (which have been seeking a separate state within India), relocation of Myanmarese refugees, border fencing, withdrawal of Assam Rifles, and delisting of “illegal migrants” from the Scheduled Tribes list.

The situation escalated when Congress MLA K. Meghachandra Singh was assaulted for suggesting the BJP-run state government’s responsibility for recent troubles. Two other MLAs were also roughed up, with Meghachandra requiring brief hospitalisation.

The legislators, invoking a revered Meitei deity, pledged to fulfil these demands. Later, the Arambai Tenggol’s chief, Korounganba Khuman, addressed a large crowd in Imphal, claiming that all lawmakers, including the Chief Minister, had signed their charter of demands.

Since May 3, 2023, Manipur has been witnessing ethnic violence. At least 158 Kuki-Zo individuals have been killed, tens of thousands remain displaced, and significant property destruction has occurred. Meiteis, too, have suffered in the conflict, but no Meitei organisation has declared the number of fatalities.

The violence started after a directive from the Manipur High Court to the state government, contemplating the possibility of granting the tribal status to the majority Meitei community, which would also allow them to buy land in Kuki-Zo territories. This decision ignited protests among the tribal communities, which rapidly escalated into widespread violence, fuelled by disinformation and extremist rhetoric.

The conflict also has strong economic underpinnings, especially in the resource-abundant Kuki-Zo regions. Since the BJP’s rise to power in 2017, the government’s focus on these territories has resulted in policies that jeopardise the land rights and livelihoods of the Kuki-Zo community.

More than eight months into the violence, the Arambai Tenggol’s rise to prominence, fuelled by access to looted arms and growing public support, resembles the emergence of a parallel authority challenging the state’s sovereignty. Their demands, while reflecting certain community aspirations, are being enforced through intimidation and violence, eroding the democratic process.

Here's what Hindustan Times has to say about the conflict in Manipur: “… Far from heading towards a resolution, the situation is only becoming more challenging. There’s a near-total absence of any functional administration; the private militias have become de facto governments in areas under their control.”

The primary function of any government is to maintain law and order. When a state fails in this regard, it essentially loses its sovereignty over its territory. This loss of control can lead to a power vacuum, often filled by non-state actors or militias, as seen in Manipur with the Arambai Tenggol.

When armed groups dictate terms to elected representatives, it erodes the legitimacy of these institutions and can lead to authoritarianism or anarchy. And the breakdown of law and order often leads to human rights abuses. Without the protection of the state, civilians become vulnerable to violence and exploitation by armed groups.

When a state government loses control, it can have national security implications. It can escalate into broader conflicts, especially in the ethnically diverse northeast region.

The central government’s role is crucial in addressing this crisis. It possesses significant capabilities unlike the current Manipur government, which appears powerless.

Article 355 of the Indian Constitution empowers the central government to take charge of a state’s law and order without necessitating the dismissal of the state government. It is not merely a privilege; it obligates the central government to safeguard every state against external aggression and internal disturbances. This provision should have been imposed.

Further, had the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, or AFSPA, been implemented in Imphal, the central armed forces would have had the capacity to prevent the erosion of the state government’s authority. Currently, AFSPA, which grants enhanced control to central forces, is predominantly in force in tribal areas rather than in regions where Meiteis form the majority and where it’s needed the most.

Implementation of AFSPA in Meitei areas is needed because media reports since September 2023 have suggested resurgence of the valley-based insurgency, which has been driven by the desire of sections of the Meiteis for independence or autonomy and which began with Manipur’s incorporation into India in 1949.

It's not yet too late for the implementation of AFSPA across Manipur or imposing Article 355. Doing so would not only stabilise the state but also safeguard the integrity and democratic health of the entire nation.