Did the Police allow militants to capture civilians before the Jiribam incident?

The Manipur Police yesterday declared they would retaliate whenever civilians are attacked, a statement that raises more questions than it answers. The state has witnessed repeated assaults on Meitei communities by Kuki militants, yet the Manipur Police have been largely ineffective in preventing these incidents or protecting civilians. If the police are truly committed to retaliating in defense of civilians, then why has their response to these attacks been so lackluster?
This is not the first time the Manipur Police’s competence has been questioned. Known for a brutal record of extrajudicial killings a decade ago, the force earned a controversial reputation for targeting unarmed individuals and alleged militants in encounters that were widely criticized as human rights violations. While these past actions have left a dark stain on the force’s credibility, their inability to act decisively against well-armed, organized aggressors today has only deepened the public’s doubts about their capabilities. A police force that was once seen as ruthless when dealing with unarmed individuals now appears impotent in the face of real threats to the community’s safety.
This perception has led to a troubling shift in the state’s dynamics. Over the past year, the people’s trust in the police has deteriorated to such an extent that civilians have taken it upon themselves to defend their communities. With police unable to safeguard Meitei villages from attacks, community members have formed their own groups—village volunteers—who now bear the brunt of the responsibility for protecting their homes and loved ones. These civilian volunteers have stepped into the role of frontline defenders, a position that, by all rights, should belong to the state’s police force. Yet, the police have often chosen to harass these village defenders, reprimanding them for taking up arms instead of providing real solutions for security.
The rise of village volunteers is a direct result of the Manipur Police’s failings. When civilians cannot trust their government to provide protection, they are left with little choice but to defend themselves. The police’s lack of resolve and unwillingness to confront armed aggressors has effectively transferred their responsibilities to civilians, a situation that should alarm any state that values law, order, and the welfare of its citizens. This lack of support only serves to highlight the police’s impotence and the widening gap between official responsibilities and actual action on the ground.
The situation is particularly dire in areas like Jiribam and other vulnerable regions, where civilian communities are frequently targeted. Despite repeated calls for action, the Manipur Police have consistently fallen short of their promises to protect and retaliate. Their repeated inaction has left communities open to attack, creating an environment of fear and desperation. This has led many to believe that the police lack not only the ability but also the will to confront armed assailants on equal footing.
The current crisis in Manipur is, in many ways, an outcome of the police’s own failures. Had they acted with competence and courage from the beginning, village volunteers might never have needed to take up arms. The community’s reliance on self-defense groups is a direct consequence of the police’s perceived cowardice and inability to respond effectively to well-armed threats.
This erosion of trust has significant implications for the state as a whole. When a police force, tasked with the fundamental duty of safeguarding lives and property, abdicates this responsibility, the social contract between the state and its people begins to unravel. Manipur Police’s incompetence has not only emboldened attackers but also placed undue pressure on ordinary citizens, who are now expected to fulfill roles that professional law enforcement officers are paid and trained to carry out.
They must take responsibility for the safety of the state’s residents, acknowledging the courage and resilience of the community members who have been forced into self-defense roles. The police must regain public trust by showing they are willing to face armed threats, not merely oppress those who attempt to defend themselves in the absence of adequate protection.
Manipur deserves a police force that will stand up to real threats and take decisive action to ensure the safety of all its citizens. It is time for the Manipur Police to act with the courage, resolve, and integrity required of them. Until they do, the people will continue to fend for themselves, and the erosion of public trust in the state’s institutions will only deepen.