Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh has called for “targeted action” against militant camps in the hill regions of the state, amid escalating violence and unrest.
Singh met with Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya at the Raj Bhawan in Imphal on Sunday morning, his second visit in less than 24 hours, to urge central security forces to launch precision strikes on insurgent bases.
A top source has informed that Singh stressed the need for a “professional approach” and the inclusion of “subject experts” to deal with the current crisis, which has worsened following a drone attack in Imphal West on September 1.
The attack, along with recent clashes between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, has heightened tensions in the region.
Memorandum to the Governor
Singh, accompanied by several National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ministers and MLAs, held a closed-door meeting with the Governor, during which he submitted a memorandum.
The contents of the memorandum have not been disclosed. A source close to the discussions dismissed speculation that Singh intended to resign, stating, “This is not the time for uncertainty. The meeting was to show unity that we are doing our best to handle the situation.”
Both the Raj Bhavan and the Chief Minister’s Office have yet to release a statement about the specifics of the meeting.
Since September 1, at least nine people from the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, including a woman, have been killed in drone attacks and gunfights, reflecting a surge in ethnic violence that has gripped the state since May 2023.
Unified command
The growing unrest has prompted calls to reassess the security command structure in Manipur. On May 30, 2023, Kuldiep Singh, the state’s security adviser, was appointed chairperson of the unified command responsible for overseeing security-related decisions in Manipur.
However, on September 2, BJP MLA Rajkumar Imo Singh, the CM’s son-in-law, wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah urging the central government to transfer control of the unified command to the Manipur government, citing the current setup’s inability to quell violence.
When asked if the Chief Minister’s memorandum to the Governor included a demand to alter the unified command structure, a source replied, “It is the prerogative of the Union Government; the State government does not have much say.”
Another insider indicated that many MLAs feel restricted by the existing chain of command, preventing them from responding effectively to the violence. The Governor was reportedly informed of the need for clarity on the coordination and control of security forces.
Increased security measures
Manipur is currently heavily militarised, with the presence of the army, Manipur Police, and 198 companies—around 20,000 personnel—of central armed police forces.
The ongoing ethnic conflict between the state’s tribal Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities has resulted in 235 deaths and the displacement of over 60,000 people since violence first erupted on May 3, 2023.
In response to the rising threat of drone attacks, the paramilitary Assam Rifles have deployed anti-drone systems along the fringe areas of the Imphal Valley.
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has also tested an anti-drone system and provided it to forces stationed in the state, while more anti-drone guns are expected to arrive soon.
The Manipur Police are in the process of acquiring their own anti-drone systems to bolster security and effectively counter threats from drones.
CM’s convoy stopped
On September 2, a day after a drone attack, Chief Minister Singh’s convoy was halted while en route to Koutruk and Senjam Chirang in Imphal West to visit a woman injured in the attack.
The Chief Minister reportedly received a call from Union Home Minister Amit Shah advising him to turn back, as more attacks could have occurred due to his presence in the area.
The Chief Minister’s latest meeting with the Governor came just hours after gunfights between Kuki-Zo and Meitei “village volunteers” left six people dead in the state’s Jiribam district, which borders Assam.
Before his first meeting with the Governor, Singh met with a group of ministers and MLAs, believed to be his close allies. Of the 53 NDA legislators, 24 attended the meeting.
Drone attacks
Manipur has seen a surge in drone attacks and gunfire in recent days. The police reported that drone bombs and long-range rockets fired by Kuki-Zo extremists killed five people and injured more than 15 in three separate attacks on villages in the Imphal West and Bishnupur districts between September 1 and September 6.
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