Indian Army and Assam Rifles personnel rescue civilians from violence-hit areas, in Manipur.
Credit: PTI Photo
The situation Manipur is facing is unprecedented with the society becoming weaponised, Assam Rifles DG P C Nair said on Friday as firing continued along the "buffer zone" dividing the Kuki-inhabited hills and the Meitei-dominated valley.
"The biggest challenge we see today is the large number of weapons that are out in the hands of both the communities. Society has become weaponised. Unless these weapons come back, this challenge will remain. Both the communities are so much against each other, this needs to be stalled," Nair told news agency ANI at the headquarters of Assam Rifles in Meghalaya’s Shillong.
Describing the situation in Manipur as "very unprecedented," Nair said the Assam Rifles never faced a similar situation. It is new to us, it is new to Manipur too. In a way, a similar situation happened in the 1980s when the Nagas and the Kukis fought. In the 90s too, sections within Kukis had a fight. But the scale of violence Manipur is going through this time is unprecedented," he said.
The Assam Rifles is a paramilitary force under the Ministry of Home Affairs but it functions under the operational command of the Army.
Nair said the only way forward for the people is the realisation among people about the need for peace through dialogue. He said road blockades by the locals were also another big challenge that affected the movement of troops and logistics. Several Meitei organisations including the Meira Paibis, the women's vigilante group also demanded the withdrawal of Assam Rifles alleging biases. The allegation was, however, rejected by the Assam Rifles.
The Assam Rifles DG made the comment at a time when firing along the "buffer zone" has resulted in the deaths of eight persons since August 29. Firing was reported also on Friday.
More than 170 people have died and over 60,000 others have been displaced due to the violence between sections of the Meitei and the Kukis since May 3. The security agencies including the Assam Rifles created the "buffer zone" in order to prevent further escalation of the situation but sporadic incidents of firing have raised questions over the role and performance of the central forces as well.