The escalating violence in Manipur has prompted the state government to demand control over the Unified Command, a security body currently under the jurisdiction of the Home Ministry. Chief Minister N Biren Singh, accompanied by 18 MLAs, met with Governor L Acharya on Sunday morning to present a list of demands, including the transfer of the Unified Command to the state government and the termination of a Suspension of Operations agreement with Kuki insurgent groups.
The Unified Command, responsible for overseeing security operations in Manipur, is currently managed by a team comprising Union Home Ministry officials, the state security adviser, and the Army. The demand to hand over control to the state government comes after a recent surge in violence, including attacks by Kuki militants utilizing long-range rockets. These attacks resulted in the death of a 78-year-old man, RK Rabei, and injuries to six others in Bishnupur.
The calls for the termination of the Suspension of Operations agreement echo concerns raised at an all-party meeting held in January, where participants sought to end the agreement to enable security forces to launch comprehensive operations against insurgents. The agreement, which had been criticized for allowing insurgent groups to operate with relative impunity, is seen as a hindrance to effective security measures.
The demand for the transfer of control over the Unified Command has sparked speculation about a potential rift within the ruling BJP and the possibility of a leadership change in Manipur. BJP MLA Rajkumar Imo Singh, the son-in-law of N Biren Singh, has also expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of central forces deployed in the state, describing them as ‘mute spectators’ and questioning their effectiveness in maintaining peace. He noted that despite the presence of approximately 60,000 central forces in Manipur, the situation remains volatile.
Opposition politicians have also voiced their concerns about the central government’s role in addressing the crisis. Manipur Congress President Keisham Meghachandra Singh described the situation as “very difficult to measure” and emphasized the need for decisive action to control the violence. He questioned the central government’s commitment to ending the violence, highlighting the inadequacy of current measures. “The entire Manipur is asking the same question,” he added, expressing widespread frustration with the lack of progress in restoring peace.
