THE RECENT killing of innocent migrant workers in the state of Manipur has once again proved the silence maintained by both the state and central government to the mindless acts carried out by the insurgency groups.
Such atrocities will only further the lack of understanding between different communities in the region. And the offenders seems to have forgotten that there are students from other region also and anything can happen in retaliation to their deeds. A very similar incident had happened in Assam few months back. It is high time that the citizens of Manipur raise their voices for the helpless workers, who have been contributing to the state, be it in the economic sector or others.
This very incident shows the helplessness of the frenzied few to fight against the central government, for the latter remain blind-eyed to their demands. Ultimately, the harmless and the voiceless have to pay the price.
The
Meira Paibis, the remarkable women force of Manipur should do something to restore peace and security in the state. I have my own doubts whether they would ever come out on the streets due to the fear of insurgency groups. There have been several incidents in the past when they didn’t turn up. But if it would have been a mistake made by the armed forces, they would even risk their lives. Such dichotomy should be buried as the victims are none other than the poor and the harmless day-to-day wage labourers. Many a time, the question pops up whether they are just the mouthpiece of a more calculating ventriloquist. Being a mere spectator to such inhumane acts will not lead to any solution. This time, it happened to the non-Manipuri speaking people, but soon a time will come when our very own native will meet the same fate.
In the recent past, Manipur had witnessed ethnic conflicts between
Meitei and
Meitei-Pangal (Manipuri Muslim),
Naga-Kuki and
Kuki-Paite, apart from the five-decade-long insurgency and counter-insurgency operations. This has had a serious repercussion on the development programme of the state and the tension still looms at large. The ’Meira Paibis’ should show some demonstration against such atrocities and should live to the expectations of the people in their fight against violation of human rights, not only for the Manipuri citizens but also for those who have come to earn their livings under certain legitimate work permits. The people of the region had already witnessed how the economic activities came to a complete standstill when these people were chased out few years back. We all know that the major economic activities are carried out by the workers from different parts of the country,especially Marwaris and Biharis. Without a chunk of their helps, day-to-day life in the state will be badly affected.
Manipur has housed a number of insurgency groups and the law and order situations is deteriorating with each passing day. Seeing such incidents, the ray of hope of the removal of much-talked-about
Draconian law, Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958, is still a distant dream.
This kind of incidents would only estrange the interaction between various communities, not only within the state but outside too. When these fanatics do not value the human lives of any outsiders in the state, soon a time will come when the Manipuri citizens will succumb to the barrels of the gun of their own people. Existence will soon become a very important issue of the people in the state, where there is a huge economic problem. Eventually, it will be the ’survival of the fittest’.
Here, education system in the state is affected because of the curfew imposed. The learning process comes to a standstill. And so a stark brain-drain follows the suite. And no wonder why students go out of the state to pursue their career. Innocence from the minds of the young ones is snatched away and there is a fear factor or say, fear psychosis. This has hindered the personality development of the juveniles. These accumulated factors form the reasons why people from the mainland always relate the north-east India with nothing but with guns and killings.
Now, the time has come for the people of Manipur to show some resistance against these atrocities meted out by the militants to the hapless victims. The convenient silence of the Manipuri citizens will only strengthen the thoughtless acts of these outlawed non-state forces. Students must and should protest to such activities. If nothing ever happens, Manipur will soon become the best example of an international system ie Anarchy.
4.0 / 3 votes 
