The occurrence of terrorism-related incidents in Manipur during the first eight months of the year 2003 indicates that the State continues to be conflict affected. The various terrorist groups currently active in the State targeted security force (SF) personnel, civilians, and even State Ministers, in continuation of their subversive activities of the past. In addition, terrorists also resorted to moral policing of the society. Terrorism-related fatalities between January 1 and August 30, 2003, included 16 civilians, 18 SF personnel and 77 terrorists. Major incidents during this period include:
The January 9-10 incident, in which an estimated 500-strong group of the MPLF cadres [an umbrella front of the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and the People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK)] engaged the SFs, occurred hours before the two topmost leaders of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah faction), chairman Isak Chishi Swu and general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah, were to arrive in New Delhi from Europe, at a crucial stage of the ongoing Naga peace talks. The Meitei insurgent groups in Manipur are bitter rivals of the NSCN-IM. Claiming to represent Meitei nationalism and fighting for an independent Manipur, MPLF, like the common Meiteis in the Manipur Valley, are strongly opposed to the dismemberment of their State as a means to solve the Naga problem. There is a lurking fear that the Union Government may accept the NSCN-IM's demand for the integration of all Naga-inhabited areas in the Northeast into a new politico-administrative set up, or merge these with the existing State of Nagaland. On January 16, 2003, thousands of Meiteis demonstrated across the Manipur valley, declaring that they would launch an ‘independent movement’ if the Union Government decided to dismember their State as part of any ‘deal’ to resolve the Naga imbroglio. A categorical statement of the visiting NSCN-IM leaders that their demand for a ‘Greater Nagaland’ cannot be compromised reportedly triggered off these protests. The Manipur Government and organisations representing Meiteis, the largest ethnic group in the State and Kukis, the second largest group, have consistently asserted that geographical boundaries of the State must remain unaltered. NSCN-IM's demand of 'greater Nagaland' (Nagalim) includes significant parts of the four of Manipur's districts– Tamenglong, Senapati, Ukhrul and Chandel.
Retrospectively, the year 2002 witnessed a marginal decline in terrorist violence in comparison to the previous year. While a total of 256 persons – 70 civilians, 25 SF personnel and 161 terrorists - had been killed in 2001, provisional fatality figures for year 2002 stood at 190, with 36 civilians, 53 security force personnel and 101 terrorists killed in various incidents.
Official sources indicated that at least 20 terrorist groups are currently operating in Manipur. The major terrorist groups are the PLA, UNLF, PREPAK and the KYKL. Further, both the Naga outfits - NSCN-IM and NSCN-K - also have a significant presence in the State, mostly in its hill areas. Certain Kuki groups like the Kuki National Front (KNF), Kuki National Army (KNA), Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) and Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA) have also registered their presence in a varied manner. Major terrorist attacks during the year 2002 included:
Counter insurgency measures yielded, among others, the following results:
Meanwhile, elections to the State Legislative Assembly were held in two phases on February 14 and 21. However, none of the 16 political parties that contested secured a simple majority in the 60-member House to be able to form a Government. In a post election alignment, a four-member Secular Progressive Front (SPF) Government headed by Congress (I) Legislature Party leader Okram Ibobi Singh was sworn in on March 7, thus, ending the latest spell of a nine-month-long President's Rule in the State.
Party positions after the elections to the Manipur Legislative Assembly were as follows:
Name of the Party
Seats won
Indian National Congress (Congress-I)
20
Federal Party of Manipur (FPM)
13
Manipur State Congress Party (MSCP)
7
Communist Party of India (CPI)
5
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
4
Nationalist Congress Party
3
Others
8
Total
60
The elections were marked by violent interference by various terrorist groups. The outfits reportedly demanded at gunpoint that various parties and candidates pay 'protection' money. Besides, terrorists also targeted prominent political leaders, election officials and security force personnel. Further, incidents of booth capturing by terrorist outfits in at least 25 polling stations were reported from across the State. The most active group during elections was the KYKL-O, which operated in close tandem with the NSCN-IM.
Major incidents of violence during elections included:
Other election-related violence, prior to February 14, included:
The year under review also witnessed internecine conflict, primarily between the different Kuki factions and the joint group of NSCN-IM and ZRA. Realignment, reconciliation as well as internecine clashes marked the inter-outfit linkages. Major trends noticed were:
Meanwhile, the terrorists also continued their 'moral campaign' against corruption in the State. The Meitei outfit, KYKL, launched ‘Operation New Kangleipak’ to ‘cleanse’ the education system off alleged corruption. The KYKL also campaigned against the use of alcohol, narcotics and women's "immodesty," in what is seen as an attempt to consolidate their hold over the populace. The outfit also threatened to kill Manipuri women who wore trousers or saris, saying they should instead don traditional sarongs known as phaneks. The KYKL has claimed that traditional practices are under threat from "Western and Indian influences". Acts of moral policing by the outfits included:
Civil society groups were unable to exert enough pressure on terrorists either to restrict their subversive activities or to eschew violence. However, the disapproval of continuing violence in Manipur and a demand for action from the Government was manifest in the following instances:
The Government’s efforts to assuage public apprehension against any dismemberment of the State in the wake of the ongoing negotiations with the NSCN-IM, contain terrorism in the State, rehabilitation of the surrendered terrorists and facilitate a peaceful resolution to the outstanding conflicts, included:
The surrender and rehabilitation scheme for terrorists in Manipur ran into rough weather when some of those who surrendered threatened, on August 16, to rejoin the insurgency ranks and issued a deadline of August 25, if the government failed to rehabilitate them, as had been promised. They criticized the State Government for its inaction, tardy implementation of welfare measures and a lack of sincerity. However, on August 24, the Chief Minister Ibobi Singh promised that his Government would do everything possible to accommodate qualifying surrendered terrorists into Government departments in the State, particularly in the Manipur Police and Manipur Rifles.
The various incidents if abduction and extortion during the year 2002 and in 2003 are symptomatic of the fact that a well-organised underground economy flourishes in Manipur. While abduction is a thriving and lucrative ‘industry’, it is also reflective of the inertia of the law and order enforcing machinery in the State. While there are no official records of ransom being paid to secure the release of abducted persons in Manipur, there have been media reports of the large amounts of money changing hands before the hostages are released without harm. The Manipur Chief Minister Ibobi Singh said in the Legislative Assembly on July 26, 2002, that the NSCN-IM was collecting ‘vehicle tax’ amounting to Rupees 2 to 3 crores annually from vehicles carrying essential items into Manipur through the Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati National Highway 39 and the Imphal-Jiribam-Silchar National Highway 53.