All eyes on Modi's visit to Manipur --- first time since 2023 mayhem :::: Clashes in Churachandpur ahead of PM's visit

Police confirmed the incident erupted at around 8pm at Bongmol, followed by Pearsonmun village and then Phailien Bazar. 

The miscreants were reportedly destroying and removing decorations prepared for the likely visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Churachandpur district on Saturday.

The fresh clash erupted between unidentified miscreants and police at three different locations in Churachandpur district of Manipur .

The security review was done at the highest level under the aegis of GoC, 3 Corps at Rangapahar. 

Sources said Lt Gen Abhijit S Pendharkar, GOC)of the Spear Corps, undertook a high-level visit to Manipur to review the prevailing security situation in view of the upcoming "VVIP visit to the state".  

The Corps Commander visited critical security zones along the Maphitel Ridge and Maphou Dam area in Kangpokpi district, where he was briefed by the Commanding Officer on the current dynamics of the security zone. 

He carried out an operational review of Army formations deployed in the region and interacted with company commanders and troops to assess their preparedness for emerging security challenges. The Corps Commander also interacted with the Ex-servicemen, BSF and CRPF personnel. 

 In a significant decision, earlier this month the Kuki-Zo Council decided to open the National Highway-02 for the free movement of commuters and essential goods

The decision came after a series of meetings between officials in the Union Home Ministry and a delegation of Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) in the last few days in New Delhi.

A tripartite Suspension of Operations (SoO) Agreement also inked on re-negotiated terms and conditions.

Notably all these happened when security measures have been tightened in Manipur for the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi before mid-September.

This will be Modi's first visit since ethnic clashes between Meiteis and Kukis (Zo) people in the state since May 2023.  

"PM's visit to violence-hit state is overdue and he should take things head on"

I am hardly here to suggest that the Prime Minister  should not go to Manipur. In fact, left to me - I believe - he should have gone there earlier. 

Modi should not have missed election campaign in Mizoram in 2023 as well as during Lok Sabha elections in 2024. But the issues for debate are not guided by personal dislikes or otherwise. 

Avoiding election campaign in 2023 and 2024 were considered  strategic moves in safe-play. 

Mizos share ethnic bonds and even language with Kukis and the BJP leadership did not want anything silly like black-flag demonstration against their superstar poll campaigner. 

Reports from Manipur and also Mizoram and Assam now suggest security arrangements are being tightened for PM's visit. Of course there will be extra caution in Manipur given the nature of problems the state has been confronted with since May 2023.

Incidentally, nothing has happened on ground between Kukis and Meiteis to suggest that things have 'improved'. Forget anything like purposeful joint meetings and statements - the two communities are still not in talking terms.

But politics is on.

A powerful section of BJP leaders and 'legislators and former ministers and others' are hyper active to install a popular government in the state. This move itself is a two-pronged strategy -- which will not see the light of the day so soon; but it may cause bigger harm. 

 

The North East of India has complexities and challenges of its own. 

Things have been pretty bad in Manipur and the alleged influx of foreign nationals was attributed as one of triggers for the 2023 ethnic clashes.   The tendency of tribal communities hitherto secluded in some isolated and excluded pockets to differentiate themselves and seek 'autonomy' both in Myanmar and in India actually comes in confrontation with the supposed to be -- 'integrationist tendencies' at multiple levels.