Land of jewels has completely lost its shine and turned in to a lawless State with militants calling the shots. An ineffective State Government has worsened the situation worse. Government officials, professionals from various fields, people belonging to linguistic minority ­ everyone has got extortion notice from militant groups.

Fed up with the demands made by the militants from time to time, State’s premier health facility, the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), is contemplating shutting doors following threats by the outlawed Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP). The banned outfit has recently issued threat to RIMS director and medical superintendent on the pretext that two of its officials had accepted bribes during recruitments. “If the terror tactics continue, we will be left with no alternative, other than closing the hospital,” RIMS Director L Fimate said.

Even the houses of Gods, the temples are also not being spared. Chief Minister Ibobi Singh has recently admitted that the militants were forcibly taking a percentage from donations and offerings given to various temples. There are nearly 20 militant groups active in Manipur.

Worried over the prevailing situation in the State, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil held a meeting with Governor S. S. Sidhu. During the meeting, the State Governor briefed Mr. Patil about the law and order situation of the State including threats from militant groups to senior government officials. Earlier, a high-level meeting was convened by Union Cabinet Secretary K. M. Chandrasekhar to discuss the deteriorating law and order situation in Manipur. Manipur Chief Secretary Jarnail Singh attended the meeting. The meeting was the third one since the last four months.

During the meeting, the State Chief Secretary explained the division of Imphal area into three zones and opening of 42 police outposts in Imphal and surrounding areas to intercept the movement of the ultras. It is understood that the Government may re-impose the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) 1958 in Imphal Municipal Area. The act was withdrawn from seven assembly segments in Imphal Municipal Area in 2006 while it is still in force in remaining 53 assembly constituencies of the State.

Recently, 15 Hindi-speaking migrant labourers were killed. According to the police outlawed Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) was behind the killings. In most of these incidents, militants have killed after the victims either refused to pay extortion money or simply ignored their warnings, the authorities stressed.

The situation in Manipur is so bad that the Centre is contemplating either to change the guard or to impose President’s Rule in the State. Although sections in the Congress party are not in favour of dismissing a Congress-led Government, the UPA leadership is “deeply perturbed” by extremist activity in the state with NSCN (IM) and Meitei groups openly extorting money in the face of an indifferent regime. It may be noted here that a Congress-led ministry headed by Ibobi Singh, who was sworn in for the second consecutive time, came to power in last March.

But Ibobi’s second innings as Chief Minister is completely dominated by lawlessness. Militant groups are awarding capital punishments at will. From drug peddlers to alleged corrupt officials, the rebels spare none. Recently, Keisam Nabachandra, an engineer working for the Manipur Public Works Department, was shot dead by militants in front of his wife and twin daughters on their birthday. Keisam, along his family, was returning home with from a temple he was shot from close range. Earlier, two women were brutally killed by the militants. Both were dead from close range by unidentified gunmen.

To make the matter worse, development process has also come to a standstill in the State. Despite the PM committing funds and laying the foundation stone for a Secretariat and a Central university in Imphal in 2004-2005, nothing has moved on both these projects.

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