The brutal abduction and murder of six Naga civilians has once again exposed the grave crisis of governance and law enforcement in Manipur. Disturbing as the crime itself is, the government’s response has raised equally serious questions about accountability, credibility, and political will.
At a press conference held at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho publicly alleged that a group operating under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement was responsible for the abduction and killing of the six victims. Yet the government simultaneously maintains that the investigation remains ongoing.
This contradiction raises a fundamental question: if the investigation has not been completed, on what basis did the Deputy Chief Minister identify the perpetrators? And if the government possesses credible intelligence pointing to those responsible, why have no arrests been made?
The people of Manipur deserve clear answers.
The six victims were abducted on May 13 along with another twelve Liangmai Nagas – eleven women and a child who were released earlier. Nearly a month later, their decomposed and mutilated bodies were recovered from a forested area in Kangpokpi district. Reports indicate that the remains were so badly disfigured that even family members struggled to identify them. This was not merely a case of murder; it was an act of extreme brutality that shocked the conscience of the state and deepened public anxiety over the continuing breakdown of law and order.
Yet, once again, the official response has largely been confined to condemnation, assurances, and promises of justice. The people of Manipur have heard these words repeatedly over the past three years. What they have not seen is consistent and decisive action against those responsible for some of the most heinous crimes committed during the ongoing conflict.
If the Deputy Chief Minister’s allegation is based on verified intelligence, then the continued freedom of the alleged perpetrators reflects a serious failure of governance. A government that knows who committed a crime of this magnitude but fails to bring them to justice cannot credibly claim that it is protecting its citizens. Such inaction undermines public trust and weakens confidence in the rule of law.
The Deputy Chief Minister’s statement therefore points to one of two troubling possibilities. Either the government possesses credible evidence but lacks the capacity or political will to act against those responsible, or it is making grave public accusations before sufficient evidence has been established. Neither scenario inspires confidence.
For more than three years, Manipur has endured a devastating cycle of violence, killings, displacement, and insecurity. Hundreds have lost their lives, thousands have been displaced, and entire communities continue to live in fear and uncertainty. In such circumstances, public confidence in institutions depends not on official statements but on visible enforcement of the law.
The first duty of any government is not to hold press conferences. It is not to issue condemnations after every tragedy. Nor is it merely to express sympathy to grieving families. The first duty of a government is to protect the lives, liberty, and security of its citizens.
When innocent civilians are abducted, tortured, and murdered, leadership is measured not by words but by action. Leadership means identifying and arresting the perpetrators. Leadership means dismantling criminal networks and ensuring that no armed group – regardless of its political connections, agreements, or influence – stands above the law.
The people of Manipur are exhausted by rhetoric. They are demanding accountability. They are demanding justice. Above all, they are demanding a government that acts before tragedies occur rather than one that merely reacts after lives have already been lost.
Every day that passes without arrests, prosecutions, or visible progress in the investigation sends a dangerous message: that those who commit horrific crimes can continue to operate with impunity while the government confines itself to statements and briefings. Such a perception not only erodes public confidence but also emboldens those who believe they are beyond the reach of the law.
The government must therefore act with urgency and transparency. If it knows who committed this horrific crime, it must move swiftly to apprehend those responsible and place the evidence before the public and the courts. If it does not yet know, then senior officials should refrain from making definitive public accusations before investigations are completed.
Justice cannot be delivered through press conferences. It can only be delivered through impartial investigation, lawful prosecution, and visible accountability.
Manipur does not suffer from a shortage of official statements. It suffers from a shortage of effective enforcement and public confidence that the law applies equally to all. The time for expressions of concern has long passed. The people are waiting for justice.
The government must decide whether it will demonstrate its authority through action or continue to explain why action remains elusive.
History will not remember how many statements were issued. It will remember whether justice was done.
Leader writer – Sh Ajit