Recurring Blockades by Meira Paibis in Movement of Central Security Forces Exacerbates Violent Situation

One common phenomena witnessed during these 11-month long violence in strife-torn Manipur is the recurring blockades on movement of Central Security Forces by the Meitei Paibis.

On Tuesday afternoon, a fresh wave of violence engulfed Kangpokpi District following heavy onslaught unleashed by armed Meitei militants and the Arambai Tenggol in the Phaileng-Luwangsanggol area, situated on the fringe between Kangpokpi and Imphal West.

The Meitei militants, and the Arambai Tenggol, armed with deadly precision rain down a barrage of mortar shells and bombs on the Kuki villages, engulfing them in a relentless crossfire that persists until nightfall.

As usual, the Meitei womenfolks – the Meira Paibis, started blocking the movement of central security forces who were on their way to the conflict area at Sekmai. The Meira Paibis halted the security forces convoy at the middle of the road, asking the security personnel’s to return back, indirectly aiding Meitei militants and Meitei radical groups in attacking Kuki villages.

On June 2023, the Indian Army had to release 12 militants of Kanglei Yawol Kunna Lup (KYKL), including self-styled “Lt Col” Moirangthem Tamba alias Uttam— a wanted militant identified as the mastermind of the 2015 Chandel ambush in which 18 soldiers of the six Dogra Regiment, after they were surrounded by Meira Paibis on their way to Imphal from Thoubal district.

Later, the defence ministry in a statement said they had to let go of the militants in order to avoid any collateral damage.

Meitei womenfolks – the Meira Paibis, who were considered as the “guardians of civil society” have become detrimental to central security forces in maintaining law and order situation. On several occasions, there have been instances of this women group becoming obstacles for law enforcing agencies when executing their primary duty. Every single time Meitei insurgents start shooting at Kuki villages, Meira Paibis will start blocking critical roads to prevent security forces from helping or saving the Kuki villages and from retaliating against the Meitei attackers. We have seen this drama repeated over and over for the past 11 months.

Meanwhile, the failure on the part of law enforcing agency to effectively deal with the menace posed by women groups in obstructing them from performing their duties is intriguing, highlighting the perceived inability of security forces to effectively counter them.

How many blockades by Meira Paibis will it take for the Central Security Forces to devise a strategy to counter the Meira Paibis menace? Are they so incapable that they can be easily choked by the Meira Paibis all the time? The repeated cycle of violence, with Meitei insurgents targeting Kuki villages and Meira Paibis obstructing security forces’ efforts to intervene, highlights a concerning breakdown in law and order.

The apparent ineffectiveness of the Indian Army, despite its formidable reputation, in dealing with the persistent challenges posed by Meira Paibis is concerning. The situation, characterized by recurring incidents over the past 11 months, reflects a troubling pattern of lawlessness and impunity. Neither the government nor the armed forces have learned anything, even after 11 months. This is total and complete lawlessness.