GUWAHATI: The ethnic conflict in Manipur has morphed into a "battle of narratives " driven by alleged falsehoods such as drones dropping bombs and 900 militants trained in Myanmar infiltrating the state for targeted attacks, Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi said Tuesday at an event in Delhi.
"It all started in May 2023 with a rumour that an Anglo-Kuki war centenary gate was being burned down. It was not. I have been on the ground and confirmed it. Rumour-mongering led to major violence," he said at the second edition of Chanakya Defence Dialogue 2024, organised by Indian Army and Centre for Land Warfare Studies.
The Army chief said that 16 months later, "narratives" were still being spun and given credence to by a section of the state government. "So, if we control that (false narratives), I think things will be alright."
Referring to Myanmar's alleged assistance to Kuki militants in Manipur, the general said the neighbouring country had troubles of its own to contend with, leading to largescale civilian displacement.
"When they are getting displaced, where will they go? They will only go to places that are peaceful and ready to accept them. And that is what is happening in Mizoram and Manipur. Those people who are coming, they are coming unarmed, they are coming for shelter. And India, the country we are, we will make sure that they are provided shelter, food and support till the time we can."
Last month, Manipur's security adviser Kuldiep Singh said the govt had received intelligence inputs about "900 Kuki militants" trained in Myanmar entering the state to attack villages in Imphal valley. He retracted the statement days later, saying that the inputs couldn't be substantiated.
The N Biren Singh-led BJP govt had also reported a series of drone bombings targeting homes and IRB bunkers in the valley in Sept. "We went on the ground and checked. There was no drone bombing," the Army chief said.
Gen Dwivedi said Manipur's "society" was weaponised at the peak of the conflict, with mass looting of armouries taking place at various places. Around 25% of looted weapons have been seized along with double the number of countrymade arms in the hands of civilians.
"There is polarisation between communities," the Army chief said. "The situation may be stable today, but it is tense. We are trying to calm the situation. We are also trying to restore the trust...When such social fracturing takes place, it takes time to kind of recover."
A "whole-of-nation approach" is required in Manipur, where over 230 have been killed in the violence since May last year, the general said.
(With inputs from New Delhi bureau)
"It all started in May 2023 with a rumour that an Anglo-Kuki war centenary gate was being burned down. It was not. I have been on the ground and confirmed it. Rumour-mongering led to major violence," he said at the second edition of Chanakya Defence Dialogue 2024, organised by Indian Army and Centre for Land Warfare Studies.
The Army chief said that 16 months later, "narratives" were still being spun and given credence to by a section of the state government. "So, if we control that (false narratives), I think things will be alright."
Referring to Myanmar's alleged assistance to Kuki militants in Manipur, the general said the neighbouring country had troubles of its own to contend with, leading to largescale civilian displacement.
"When they are getting displaced, where will they go? They will only go to places that are peaceful and ready to accept them. And that is what is happening in Mizoram and Manipur. Those people who are coming, they are coming unarmed, they are coming for shelter. And India, the country we are, we will make sure that they are provided shelter, food and support till the time we can."
Last month, Manipur's security adviser Kuldiep Singh said the govt had received intelligence inputs about "900 Kuki militants" trained in Myanmar entering the state to attack villages in Imphal valley. He retracted the statement days later, saying that the inputs couldn't be substantiated.
The N Biren Singh-led BJP govt had also reported a series of drone bombings targeting homes and IRB bunkers in the valley in Sept. "We went on the ground and checked. There was no drone bombing," the Army chief said.
Gen Dwivedi said Manipur's "society" was weaponised at the peak of the conflict, with mass looting of armouries taking place at various places. Around 25% of looted weapons have been seized along with double the number of countrymade arms in the hands of civilians.
"There is polarisation between communities," the Army chief said. "The situation may be stable today, but it is tense. We are trying to calm the situation. We are also trying to restore the trust...When such social fracturing takes place, it takes time to kind of recover."
A "whole-of-nation approach" is required in Manipur, where over 230 have been killed in the violence since May last year, the general said.
(With inputs from New Delhi bureau)
