New Delhi: Effective crackdown to recover more than 3,500 looted weapons and calibrated action against Meira Paibis (Meitei women who have taken on role of vigilantes) — these are the two key takeaways from the high-level meeting called by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to review the security situation in ethnic conflict-hit Manipur, ThePrint has learnt.
“These are two challenges that need to be tackled at the earliest to restore normalcy in the state,” a source in the security establishment told ThePrint.
“A detailed status report was given to the home minister and after a detailed discussion, directions have been given to prioritise creation of joint teams to carry out focussed operations to recover the looted weapons that are circulating among civilians and in the black market,” the source added.
It was also decided that the deployment of central forces will be increased in “sensitive pockets”.
“Sensitive pockets will be identified and forces will strategically be deployed in areas that are more sensitive,” the source said.
The MHA will also hold meetings with both communities (Kukis and Meiteis) to ensure that an amicable solution is reached, the source added. “There is a need to bring both communities on the table for a dialogue to bridge the divide. That has not happened till now. The MHA has ensured that this will be taken up on priority.”
Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, Intelligence Bureau Chief Tapan Deka, Army Chief General Manoj Pande, Army Chief (Designate) Lt General Upendra Dwivedi, GoC Three Core HS Sahi, Security Adviser to Manipur Kuldiep Singh, Manipur Chief Secretary Vineet Joshi, Manipur DGP Rajiv Singh and Assam Rifles DG Pradeep Chandran Nair joined the meeting which took place at the Ministry of Home Affairs in North Block, Delhi.
Over the past year, more than 200 lives have been lost in Manipur, which has been in the grip of ethnic violence since last May. At least 60,000 people have been displaced, and there have been multiple incidents of violence against women. Despite efforts to restore peace, the situation in the state is still far from normal. Vigilante groups continue to operate with impunity, security forces face frequent attacks from local residents, and the stolen weapons from police armouries pose a security risk.
Police data obtained by ThePrint shows that as of 1 May, 5,682 firearms had been looted from police armouries and stations, primarily in the Meitei-dominated Imphal Valley. However, only 2,030, or 35.7 percent, have been recovered so far. Additionally, out of the 6.64 lakh rounds of ammunition stolen, only 28,000 — a mere 4 percent — have been traced. This suggests that a significant arsenal still remains with local people.
Also read: In Manipur, Meira Paibis won’t budge. Forces flustered as women vigilantes lead mobs, block convoys
Action against Meira Paibis
Another significant challenge is the Meira Paibis. Last week, a group of Meira Paibis blocked a convoy of Assam Rifles who were on their way to control a gunfight at the Kangpokpi-East Imphal border.
In April, Meira Paibis had taken 11 members of radical Meitei outfit Arambai Tenggol from the custody of the Mahar regiment of the Indian Army, and obstructed the seizure of illegal arms from them.
In a few instances, the police registered cases against “unknown women”. However, no arrests have been made in any of these cases so far.
“It was conveyed that there needs to be an effort to effectively deal with this menace. These women impede operations, create a law and order situation. They are extremely aggressive. Even the police are scared to arrest them as they can easily gather a mob and outnumber the police,” the source said.
“Each time there is movement of security forces in the valley for any raid to recover the weapons that were looted, these groups come together and congregate to block roads, compelling the personnel to retreat. In many instances they have forced police to release the detainees,” the source further told The Print.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
Theprint u are spreading false news please do have some research about manipur meitei and also about this conflict while you are talking about meira paibis then you should collect some ground reports from meira paibis and ask them why they are doing this things when you got the reports you can understand what the governnent have done with them and also you didn’t even mention about kukis first thing you know that this conflicts is started from kukis and do some research about kuki where they came from and when that days the meitei people gives them shelter and gives foods for thier live and now the kukis started war against the meitei and i am not saying this for onesinde i m telling you the truth and one thing i urge you please visit manipur and met both meiteis and kukis then collect the ground reports
There was no mention of Meira Paibis in the official press release by the PIB. This heading is misleading, and at the most a clickbait.
Such misleading sensationalised misleading news on a sensitive topic will bring more violence and hatred. The Print as a organisation has been running smear campaign against Meiteis and Meira Paibis.