Manipur flashpoint: Its insurgency and a volatile border continue to impose a toll on security forces and local people

News: The ambush on an Assam Rifles convoy by Manipur insurgents in Churachandpur district killing five soldiers breaches the fragile calm prevailing in the border state.

About the insurgency in Manipur

Manipur insurgency has lost much steam from a decade or so ago, the state remains troubled by insurgent groups operating from Myanmar’s Chin state and staying out of peace talks while propping up a parallel economy run through extortion and narcotics.

What forced this attack?

1. Effective curbing the narcotics trade, 2. A political shift of Myanmar towards China after Military rule, 3. Complicated peace efforts: This is due to Manipur’s diverse ethnic mix comprising social groups like Meitei, Naga and Kuki-Zo with separate and overlapping geographical areas of influence alongside many insurgent groups, 4. An overstretched Indian army slowed down in battling insurgencies.

The twin challenges of talking peace without any quarter for illegal activities is hard to achieve for security forces. But, a breakthrough here will help India better focus its resources on the LAC fight.

Source: This post is based on the article “Manipur flashpoint: Its insurgency and a volatile border continue to impose a toll on security forces and local people” published in The Times of India on 14th Nov 2021.