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| Photo Credit: PTI
At the first-ever integration training organised by the Assam Rifles for the Manipur Police last month, recruits from all the three communities – Meitei, Kuki-Zo and Naga – concurred that peace in the ethnic violence-affected State should be brokered by a “neutral third party”, a senior government official told The Hindu.
Most recruits were “disillusioned with the inability of their leaders to find a solution to the issue” and stressed on a larger role by the Central government to tackle the crisis.
The integration training was organised in the first week of December for around 1,900 select police officials in Manipur on the directions of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Ethnic polarisation
The need for an integration programme was discussed first at a meeting on June 17, 2024, when Mr. Shah reviewed the security situation in Manipur. One of the issues discussed at the meet was polarisation of the police on ethnic lines. The meeting highlighted that despite the ongoing tensions, personnel from both the communities who are deployed in the Assam Rifles and the Army existed in harmony.
Manipur has been affected by ethnic violence between the tribal Kuki-Zo and the Meitei people since May 3, 2023. The strife has claimed the lives of more than 250 people so far.
As many as 1,300 recruits from the Meitei community, 350 Nagas and 260 members from the Kuki-Zo community were identified for the programme. The recruits who were already undergoing training at the Lachit Borphukan Police Training Centre is Assam for a year were involved in the programme.
The training focussed on team building, acknowledging diversity, pride of being “a Manipuri and an Indian”, understanding fake news and propaganda, among others.
Fake news
At least 450 recruits volunteered to fill a feedback form. “Ninety-five per cent of the recruits responded that negotiations are a must and communities need to accommodate each other. Seventy per cent recruits disagreed with the weaponisation of youth and society, while 80% recruits strongly agreed that fake news is a major cause of tension among communities,” the official said.
Th official added that 95% recruits agreed with the concept of truth and reconciliation as a primary step to usher sustainable peace and 75% recruits disagreed with the deployment of Central forces for restoration of peace. Another 75% agreed that “media has been biased and has not adequately showcased the issues of Manipur at the national level.”
The Assam Rifles has recommended that a similar training for other senior ranks of the Manipur Police may be organised at neutral venues in Assam or Meghalaya.
“The recruits who suffered personal losses during the ongoing violence were visibly anguish about the uncertain situation and were disappointed with the steps taken by the government so far to ease their sufferings,” the official said.
Published – January 18, 2025 07:46 pm IST
