Further centralization and increasing protests in Manipur

Featured image: massive rally against the new government. Source: Northeast Now

On Sunday February 9, the Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh was summoned to the national capital by the Interior Minister of the old Indian State, Amit Shah. After arriving to Imphal, coming back from the meeting, Biren Singh resigned. Indian media reported that Biren Singh was losing support among the members of the Parliament, making more difficult a situation which is already complicated in Manipur. In his resignation letter he stated some important “projects” for Manipur, and the first one was: “To maintain the territorial integrity of Manipur”. The Manipur Assembly has been dissolved and the electoral processes suspended. Even tough that is clear for everyone, the BJP local leaders try to portray these measures as a simple “suspended animation”, stating that the assembly is not dissolved, that in can come back to activity soon. These measures suppose a further centralization to tackle the situation of protests and crisis since 2023, which has never been under control since that moment.

The centralization has brought a further deployment of paramilitary troops, intelligence service agents and numerous raids. In only one week after the resignation and the centralization of power, there has been a big crackdown, with many people arrested, triggering protests in multiple areas across Manipur. According to the Indian authorities there are over 30 people arrested. The Indian repressive forces state that these people is part of militant organizations. The new governor of Manipur, Ajay Kumar Bhalla, demanded to surrender the militants and to hand over their weapons within one week.

Despite these demands the people in Manipur has demonstrated its disagreement: local sources report on demonstrations were held in Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, and Kakching districts. On Friday 21 of February the paramilitaries Assam Rifles detained 26 village volunteers in Kakching district. All of them were soon released due to demonstrations of the local inhabitants. More protests erupted due to these detentions in other districts. Protesters set fire to tyres and wooden blocks in several districts, including Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, and Bishnupur.

Mobilizations are taking place protesting against the new more centralized rule imposed by the old Indian State in Manipur.