Every time Selina Mairembam, a 13-year-old from Imphal, India, tries to use her right hand, the pain and scars from a bomb blast remind her of the near-death experience she had. Knocked out instantly, she woke up to a scene of blood everywhere, initially thinking she was dead.
Once talkative, Selina now barely speaks, haunted by the memory of the bomb shrapnel tearing through her arm. She expresses her constant fear, saying, “I’m always scared. I don’t want to be scared.”
On September 7, 2024, while assisting a priest with a ritual for her grand-aunt’s death ceremony, a bomb struck her great-grandfather’s house in Moirang town, killing a priest and event manager. The attack left Selina with severe injuries and traumatized her family, including her mother, who gave birth to a baby boy the next day.
The violence in Manipur, stemming from an ethnic conflict, has led to a series of clashes and unrest, resulting in the deaths of hundreds and displacement of thousands. The resignation of Chief Minister N Biren Singh marked a turning point, but the presence of weapons in civilian hands continues to pose a threat to the fragile peace in the region.
Major Digvijay Singh Rawat, a decorated soldier, describes the unprecedented use of explosives by civilians in Manipur as a grave violation of human rights. The state government’s efforts to recover looted weapons have been limited, leaving the region on edge and vulnerable to further violence.
The situation in Manipur is described as a tinderbox ready to explode at any moment, with the fear of renewed conflict looming large over the state.
“Most of the stolen weapons are single-barrel and double-barrel firearms, country-made weapons, and .303 rifles, not the more advanced weapons like AKs and INSAS rifles. Security officials believe that over 3,000 looted weapons and hundreds of thousands of ammunition rounds are still missing.
Weapons recovered and surrendered during the conflict are more sophisticated than those looted from state armouries, including M4s, M16s, sniper rifles, machineguns, and handguns smuggled from Myanmar and Bangladesh. However, both sides have not surrendered their most advanced weapons.
Additionally, both sides have created their own local weapons and heavy arms. For example, Kuki-Zo fighters have used improvised rockets made from galvanized iron and metal pipes, while Meitei fighters have developed makeshift wheeled mortars.
This has resulted in civilians armed with looted weapons launching mortar and bomb attacks on each other, leading to the destruction of villages and civilian casualties. Videos have surfaced of civilians firing mortars and rockets at each other, resulting in tragic deaths due to improper handling of explosives.
The conflict has taken a toll on civilians from all sides, with innocent victims suffering from severe injuries from heavy weaponry. Autopsies have revealed the gruesome injuries caused by the conflict, with no assurance of justice for the victims.
Stories of loss and devastation abound in Manipur, with families mourning the deaths of their loved ones who were caught in the crossfire. The war has left a trail of destruction and despair, with no winners in sight.” Dalam rekaman itu, terdengar suara yang konon adalah milik Singh, menteri utama saat itu, yang bangga menggunakan bom dan meminta petugas keamanan untuk menggunakan bahan peledak secara rahasia.
Singh, yang berasal dari Partai Bharatiya Janata (BJP) Perdana Menteri Narendra Modi, yang berkuasa baik secara federal maupun di Manipur, telah bersikeras bahwa rekaman tersebut dimanipulasi, meskipun analisis oleh Truth Labs Forensic Services, sebuah yayasan nirlaba swasta, menyatakan bahwa perbandingan dengan sampel pidato publik Singh menunjukkan ada kecocokan sebesar 93 persen.
Jika rekaman tersebut terbukti akurat, itu akan menjadi bukti yang merugikan terhadap keterlibatan pemerintahan Singh dalam mendorong konflik, kata para ahli.
Al Jazeera mencari tanggapan dari Sharda Devi, seorang pemimpin BJP dari Manipur, tentang laporan Truth Labs tentang rekaman tersebut, tetapi dia tidak membalas.
Sementara itu, setelah pengunduran diri Singh, pemerintahan Modi telah memberlakukan pemerintahan federal atas negara bagian Manipur. Sejak itu, pejuang bersenjata dari kedua pihak Meitei dan Kuki-Zo telah menyerahkan sebagian senjata mereka, tetapi sebagian besar masih belum terhitung. Ultimatum 14 hari oleh gubernur untuk secara sukarela menyerahkan senjata berakhir pada 6 Maret.
Para pejuang dari kedua belah pihak telah memohon amnesti dari penuntutan. Tetapi negara itu sendiri menghadapi kenyataan yang suram: Dalam kebanyakan kasus, tidak ada catatan siapa yang melakukan kejahatan. Apakah itu warga sipil yang beralih menjadi relawan desa bersenjata, anggota milisi bersenjata, atau pemberontak dari kelompok bawah tanah?
Bagi keluarga seperti Houjellu dan Neimnilhing, langkah-langkah pemerintah menuju perdamaian terlalu sedikit, terlalu terlambat.
Seorang Paulianthang Vaiphei yang rentan berusia 63 tahun, ayah Pausondam Vaiphei – kematian ketiga akibat bom di Churachandpur – kesulitan berbicara, suaranya berat oleh kesedihan setelah kehilangan satu-satunya anaknya. Pausondam, yang baru berusia 29 tahun, adalah anggota dewan desa Kangvai.
Menurut Laporan Informasi Pertama (FIR) yang diajukan di kantor polisi Churachandpur, dia tewas dalam serangan artileri berat di dekat desa Kangathei pada 31 Agustus.
“Apa yang menghentikan pemerintah untuk bertindak lebih cepat?” tanya Paulianthang, suaranya pecah. “Jika mereka benar-benar bermaksud untuk benar-benar menyingkirkan senjata dari negara bagian sejak hari pertama, mungkin kita tidak akan melihat skala kekerasan dan pengusiran massal ini. Tidak ada yang menang dalam perang ini. Hanya Manipur yang kalah – rakyatnya, perdamaian, masa depannya.”