A sense of alienation among Manipuris

It is because of continued neglect of the North-Eastern states by the successive governments at the Centre, a sense of alienation has set in the minds of the people of the region. They feel alienated from the Union of India that leads them to start secessionist agitations time to time. Several organisations led by major outfit Apunba Lup began agitation protesting the killing of Sanjit by police commandos in an alleged fake encounter at Imphal market complex on 23rd July.A pregnant woman was also killed and five others were injured by stray bullets in the incident. A Delhi-based news magazine had published 12 photographs of the ‘fake encounter’ in which Sanjit was taken to a godown of pharmacy and shot dead by the commandos. If the photographs of fake encounter is realy as such, the government must revoke AFSPA immediatetly to restore confidence among the people of North-Eastern regions. This type of police atrocities encourages the tendency of extremism and secessionism in the region.The security forces deployed in North-Eastern states to maintain peace and security in the region but on the contrary they have turned out to be the greatest enemies of the local people.The killing of an ex-militant and a pregnant woman in the fake encounter with the police commandos in Manipur has plunged the state into turmoil. The photos of fake encounter by police forces of Manipur carried in a Delhi-based English Magazine depict in minute details and in those photos the police forces are clearly seen pushing the ex-militant into a Pharmancy store and shooting him dead. This enraged the people and they instantly came out on the streets to protests against the fake encounter by police in the state at regular interval. A lady named Manorma five years back was also raped and killed in fake encounter by the police commandos in Manipur. Chief Minister Okram Ibodi Singh had to bow down to public outcry against the fake encounter and ordered the judicial probe into the incident. The public anger was so hightened that the Ibodi Singh government had to take note of and immediately suspended the police personnel involved in the encounter.The people of the North-Eastern regions demand the repeal of Armed Force Special Powers Act (AFSPA) because it is proving to be draconian and is misused by the police forces in the region. AFSPA is imposed in the disturbed areas to bring the situation back to normalcy. The fake encounter by police in North-Eastern states is taking place at frequent intervals killing innocent people. This sows the seed of secession and fierce agitation in the region. The police atrocities coupled with corruption at all levels of government in the north-Eastern states have forced the people to rise in revolt agaionst the state. The police atrocities have also given birth to secessionism in the region. The successive governments at the Centre pump monetary package into N-E states for their development but the how money is spent is never accounted for nor any important diginary from the Centre visits the region to assuage the ruffled feather of the people. First of all, the Central government must act immediately to remove the alienation set in the minds of the people of the region by taking speps which could provide healing touch to them. The atmosphere must be created as such that they could develop feeling among them that they are also part and parcel of India like people from other regions of the country. And for that the government must assess the situation and decide whether the AFSPA is proving detremental to the unity and integrity of the nation and if that is so it must be revoked immediately.