Unconvincing assurances and the inexplicable silence

In a dramatic turn of events an enraged mob set fire to the residence of Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh who is the union minister of state for external affairs despite the continued assurances of the Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh and Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh who is also given charge of the Inter Agency Unified Command of the security forces in Manipur that the situation in the state is under control. The incident unfolded a day after nine civilians were killed and ten injured in a gunfight that ensued between well-armed narco-terrorists and volunteers of a village bordering the hills at Khamenlok. The perception of the public is apparently diametrically opposite to the announcements made by the state government as well as the security advisor. The unfortunate incident isn’t a one-off and it should be taken as a sign of the growing frustration indignation of the public over the ineffective and delayed handling of the current crisis gripping the state as well as the perceived acts of partiality and recorded acts of unprovoked destruction of public property by the central security forces and the RAF (rapid action force) deployed in the state in large numbers to protect the general public and control the violence that has engulfed the state for more than 43 days since it first ignited after a peace rally at Churachandpur turned violent and Meitei homes and properties began to be attacked and destroyed and retaliations followed from other places in the state.
There is also a growing feeling of disconnect amongst the general public with the elected representatives of the state as well as the central leaders since the situation at the ground continues to be grim and uncertain. Attacks by armed narco-terrorists on innocent villagers continues unabated at the peripheries of the valley areas and even those displaced and are taking shelter at the relief camps have not been spared.
While finding a solution to the present problem is difficult to say the least, the very existence of Manipur now lies in putting in every ounce of efforts and resources at finding a lasting and pragmatic solution which has its genesis, if in part, in the provisions and acts during the British rule.
This is why many intellectuals and even the state bar association as well as various civil society organizations, political parties and imminent citizens has raised the call to convene a special session of the Manipur Legislative Assembly to discuss the present crisis, its origin, the course of the violence and roles of different players to stoke the fire of violence for more than a month, measures for confidence building among the communities and bringing peace and normalcy, etc. The reaction and comment of RK Ranjan who was quoted as saying “I am shocked. The law and order situation in Manipur has totally failed,” gains special interest at this juncture as the comment clearly revealed the failure of the state government in handling the present situation and has also expressed apprehension over future attacks on his properties and even his life – a statement reflecting the depth of despair and inability to set things in order by the state government as well as the ignorance by the central government in taking care of the mess the state is presently embroiled in.
Bottomline – the public need to feel that the state as well as the central government is working to resolve the crisis and bring about a lasting and pragmatic solution and anything short will mean the state will continue to burn. The inexplicable silence of the otherwise garrulous prime minister on the present crisis in the state is another sore point adding fuel to the fire.