Silence in the Face of Slaughter: A Leadership Crisis in Manipur

The massacre of six abducted family members, including three minors, by Kuki militants marks yet another grim chapter in Manipur’s deepening crisis. The horrifying details of the incident—two minors, one an 8-month-old infant, brutally murdered alongside three women—have left the state in shock and grief. As the news broke, Imphal and other valley areas erupted in protests. Anguished citizens, including women, youths, and elders, took to the streets, blocking roads and shutting down businesses in Imphal East and West districts. Their collective anguish is now compounded by the silence of the political leadership, both in the state and at the Centre.
This silence, particularly from the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister, has angered a populace already reeling from fear and loss. Not a single word of condemnation or solace has been offered to the bereaved families. Instead, the government’s inaction has been amplified by a glaring contradiction: BJP MLA Paolienlal Haokip publicly expressed condolences for 10 Kuki-Zo militants killed in a recent encounter with the CRPF, yet there has been no acknowledgment of the slaughtered civilians. This selective empathy is perceived as an outright betrayal by the Meitei community, further eroding any trust they might have had in their leaders.
Reports that nine of the militants killed in Jiribam had traveled over 200 kilometers from Churachandpur to attack Meitei civilians highlight the law-and-order breakdown in the state. Despite the imposition of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in the hill areas, militants seem to operate with impunity. Ironically, AFSPA’s presence in valley areas has done little to protect the Meitei population, leaving them vulnerable to attacks originating from militant-controlled territories. The act, intended to provide security, has instead become a symbol of the state’s inability to address the real sources of violence.
Chief Minister N. Biren Singh’s repeated claims of standing with his people sound hollow against the backdrop of such atrocities. While he has often declared that his position is secondary to the safety of his citizens, his continued silence and inaction suggest otherwise. The Chief Minister has failed to take meaningful steps to protect civilians, particularly women and children, from the escalating violence. His refusal to even offer condolences for the lives lost in this latest massacre is a glaring failure of leadership. If he cannot rise to the occasion, he must seriously consider whether clinging to power serves any purpose for the people of Manipur.
The broader implications of this crisis extend beyond the state’s borders. The ineffectiveness of AFSPA in containing militant activities in hill areas, coupled with its repressive application in the valley, raises serious questions about the government’s security policies. The fact that militants can traverse vast distances under AFSPA’s watch to commit atrocities exposes the act’s fundamental flaws. This disconnect between policy and ground realities only deepens the distrust between communities and perpetuates cycles of violence.
The central government’s silence is equally troubling. As Manipur spirals further into chaos, the absence of a clear and empathetic response from the Prime Minister sends a dangerous message of indifference. The people of Manipur, grappling with relentless violence and displacement, deserve more than platitudes—they need decisive action. The government’s inaction risks alienating a population that feels increasingly abandoned and unprotected.
Manipur’s current state of turmoil demands urgent and comprehensive intervention. The government must break its silence, condemn the violence unequivocally, and outline a concrete plan to restore order. This includes reassessing the deployment of security forces, addressing the failures of AFSPA, and ensuring that those responsible for such heinous acts are brought to justice. Above all, the leadership must recognize that its silence and inaction are not just failures of governance but betrayals of the trust placed in them by the people.
The massacre of six civilians, including innocent children, is a tragedy that should shake the conscience of the nation. Instead, it is met with a silence that amplifies the pain of those left behind. Manipur’s people are mourning, protesting, and demanding accountability, but their cries seem to fall on deaf ears. This crisis is not just a test of leadership; it is a defining moment for the state and the nation. If those in power continue to abdicate their responsibilities, history will remember their silence as complicity in the suffering of the people they swore to protect.