Escalating Tensions: Manipur Violence Spillover Incites Fear and Demands for Security in Cachar District

The recent surge in communal violence in Manipur has begun to impact neighbouring Cachar district, raising concerns over the safety and security of its residents. The district, home to a diverse tribal population including Dimasas, Hmars, Riyangs, and Nagas, as well as Meitei Manipuris, is now facing the spillover effects of the unrest.

Otherwise peaceful, Jiribam in Manipur has also succumbed to the violence in the last two months, leading to a mass exodus of people seeking refuge in Lakhipur, Cachar. In response, Cachar Police have intensified their patrols, including riverine surveillance, in the border villages of Jirighat and Lakhipur. Top cops, including the commando battalion of the Assam Police, have been mobilized to prevent any untoward incidents and engage in peace talks.

Breaching all the firewalls, a group of suspected Hmar militants mobilised them at the foothills of Bhuban Pahar and took shelter in the tough terrains of the mountain often considered sacred. Cachar Police was tipped off about this mobilisation and successfully nabbed three militants who died in a crossfire in retaliation by a Police team. To read about that operation click here. (https://barakbulletin.com/arms-recovered-from-bhuban-pahar-hmar-militants-killed-in-crossfire-sp-cachar/)

Residents of Bhuban Khal, Dholakhal, and nearby villages in the Dholai constituency are living in constant fear. The difficult terrain of the Bhuban range, located just 7 km from the Manipur border, provides a convenient hideout for militants. This proximity to the Churachandpur district of Manipur has raised concerns that the area could become a sanctuary for rebel groups. The recent operation by Cachar Police and their intensified patrolling following the July 16 firing incident hints towards developing tension in the hills. The trijunction of the Assam-Manipur-Mizoram border is also around 20 kilometres away from Bhubankhal.

In response to these growing tensions, the villagers of Chekarcham have demanded the establishment of a permanent Border Out Police Post (BOP). On Friday, a delegation met with District Magistrate Rohan Kumar Jha and submitted a memorandum, urging the establishment of a BOP for the safety of villagers in Chekarcham, Jorakhal, Smitnagar, Metnatal, and Dholakhal. These villages, situated on the southeastern edge of Cachar near the Manipur-Mizoram border, have been particularly vulnerable.

Speaking to journalists after submitting the memorandum, Bishwanath Barman and Roshan Roy said that the night before, over two hundred families spent the night sleepless. For the past few months, a group of 10-12 unidentified tribal people carrying advanced firearms has been frequently roaming these villages at night. As a result, the villagers are living in great fear for their children and women. They said that in the past, there were insurgent activities in the area, including exchanges of gunfire with security forces and looting of weapons. Additionally, these groups often enter the villages, forcibly demand and collect extortion money, and take ducks, chickens, goats, pigs, etc., at will. If they resist, militants threaten to kill them.

The region has a history of insurgent activity, including exchanges of gunfire with security forces, looting of weapons, and extortion. In 2003, 90 houses in Chekarcham and Metnatal villages were burned down, and 28 members of the Dimasa community were killed during the Hmar-Dimasa ethnic conflict. Despite the significant losses, the affected families have yet to receive any compensation or assistance from the government.

Approximately 12 years ago, the 15 APIR camp in Chekarcham was looted, resulting in the loss of all its weapons and ammunition. During the Hmar-Dimasa conflict in 2003, a permanent camp was proposed but was later looted by militants. To prevent such incidents from recurring, the villagers are now demanding the establishment of a permanent BOP.

Bishwanath Barman, a local of the Bhuban Pahar area, stated, “In the last two days, we have heard heavy firing and shooting in our village, and we are living in constant fear. Recently, we have seen a heavy deployment of CRPF and Police. It takes 2-3 hours for militants to come from Manipur to the other side of Bhuban Pahar and easily attack us. Last night, all of us in our village couldn’t sleep due to the tension. We are demanding a permanent camp at this crucial junction.”

People in the Cachar district are living in fear, as tensions continue to rise, the need for enhanced security measures and government intervention becomes increasingly urgent to ensure the safety and well-being of the residents in the border areas of the district.