Eighteen months is a long time for any violent conflict and unending tension and with signs of respite the conflict has diversified into different trajectories, while the common people continue to suffer. In recent days, the conflict turned a new chapter with the abduction of three youths followed by a demand for release of Kuki militant leader charged with secession in exchange for the two youths still in the custody of the abductors. Even with the kind of hostility prevalent, nobody expected a hostage situation.
Although no official word has been given, the appeal from the youth who was reportedly rescued by security forces and the video appeal of the two in captivity has somewhat confirmed that a demand for sort of exchange was made. State government seems to be grappling with the volatile situation as they send delegation after delegation for negotiations with Kuki CSOs to secure the release of the two youths. But no official communique or updates are forthcoming.
However, security forces who supposedly rescued one of the youths and handed over to police are strangely silent on this particular incident. As a matter of fact, this is not the first instance of abduction of Meiteis by Kuki militants in the fringe areas. In most of the cases, security forces manage to intercept the militants and rescue the abductees. And press releases from the PR units of the security forces would be issued extolling the role of security forces in keeping the peace and averting unsavoury situations. This time, no PR had been issued either by the Army or AR although the said youth was handed over to police by security forces.
The youth had sonce been handed over to the family and he also remains tight-lipped on the circumstances leading to their abduction and his ‘rescue’ maybe for security reasons. Still, authorities owe an explanation to the general public on the circumstances of the rescue less speculations get the upper hand and explode. On the road to Dimapur, a check post had been set up near Kanglatombi and the said check post had in the past managed to intercept anyone trying to cross over or lost their way. And it is still a mystery as how the three youths on a bullet motorcycle managed to go beyond the check post after Gamgiphai where they were abducted.
Well, that has happened. But we are still wondering how the situation has come to such a pass. Yes, instances of Kuki militants raining bombs by drones and firing rockets among the civilian population which had all the hallmarks of terrorism had happened in recent times. Earlier, several incidents of extreme violence had occurred.
Yes, the primal urges or predatory instinct which otherwise lay dormant in each and every human being had been rekindled by the hate-driven violence. It laid bare the alarming level of hatred and animosity flowing from a misdirected passion, a state of mind bereft of reason and human compassion. In short, irrationality and mob psychology had taken over. Senseless violence like beheadings, rape and molestation, violent killings of innocents had happened in the conflict. But, most of them happened in the heat of the moment. But abduction resulting in hostage situation is pre-mediated violence with a design pointing to an act of terrorism.
Bombing civilian areas by using drones and firing long-range rockets are also acts of terrorism. But creating a hostage situation is an act of extreme violence and terrorism which needs to be dealt adequately by the central government. Acts of terrorism, wherever it occurs, it is all the same. Bowing down to the demands of the ‘terrorists’ would make them bolder. Yet again, lack of affirmative action on the part of the central government and studied silence of the sympathetic media regarding the hostage situation is also playing a part in the perception game.
