Both the Meitei and Kuki communities must find a way to coexist, to see each other not as enemies but as fellow human beings.
Only cowards kill children. There are no excuses, no justifications, no ideologies that can ever redeem such an act. To harm the most innocent is to abandon not just morality, but the very essence of humanity itself. The ongoing conflict in Manipur, once defined by territorial disputes and ethnic grievances, has now crossed a line so horrifying that it shakes the conscience of every decent human being.
For 18 months, Manipur has been torn apart by the violent conflict between the Meitei and Kuki communities, each side entrenched in a bitter struggle over land, identity, and survival. But the recent abduction of three women and three children, including a defenceless eight-month-old baby, revealed the depths of brutality this war has reached. Days later, the bodies of a woman and two children were found discarded like refuse near the confluence of the Jiri and Barak rivers. The horror of their fate sends shivers down the spine and fills the air with questions that no one dares to answer.
What evil resides in a person who sees a child as an enemy? What kind of desperation or depravity leads to the targeting of women and children, the most vulnerable and defenceless among us? To kidnap and kill them is not just an act of violence—it is a declaration of moral bankruptcy.
The baby, barely eight months old, knew nothing of the Meitei-Kuki conflict, nothing of the history, the hatred, the politics. Its only knowledge of the world would have been the warmth of its mother’s embrace and the comfort of her voice. To extinguish such a life is not just a crime; it is an act of unfathomable cruelty, a violation of the sacredness of life itself.
And what of the parents, the families left behind? Can anyone comprehend the depth of their pain? To lose a child is every parent’s worst nightmare, but to lose them in such a horrifying, deliberate way tears apart the very foundation of their existence. How does a mother grieve for a child stolen and murdered in a conflict she cannot stop? How does a father reconcile with the helplessness of being unable to protect his family from such monstrous acts?
The targeting of women and children in this conflict is not an isolated incident but a symptom of the hatred and desperation that now defines it. These innocent lives were not collateral damage—they were deliberate targets, chosen to send a message of terror. But what kind of message does such violence send, other than one of cowardice?
This tragedy is a glaring reminder that the conflict in Manipur is no longer just about land or autonomy. It has become a war on humanity itself. The abduction and killing of these children and women represent the depths to which this violence has sunk, and it should force us to confront the uncomfortable truth: that hatred left unchecked can destroy everything it touches.
And yet, the cycle of retaliation continues. The killing of 11 militants in an attack on a CRPF camp may have been hailed as a tactical victory, but it came at a cost. It escalated the violence, and the retaliation was swift and brutal. This cycle of revenge is like a fire that feeds on itself, consuming everything in its path—including the innocent.
The governments, both state and central, have failed to address the root causes of this conflict. For years, Manipur has been a tinderbox of ethnic tension, political neglect, and insurgency. The lack of governance, the absence of justice, and the indifference to the suffering of ordinary people have created a vacuum that violence has filled. This vacuum has now swallowed children, and if nothing is done, it will claim many more.
The Indian government finds itself tottering on the brink of failure as the conflict between the Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur spirals into unprecedented chaos. What began as a territorial and ethnic dispute has now escalated into a violent crisis, exposing not just the fault lines of governance but also the shadowy influence of external powers fuelling the unrest.
Ground intelligence reveals a troubling narrative: Kuki groups, reportedly emboldened by foreign influences, are pushing a dangerous separatist agenda that threatens the unity of India. This agenda extends beyond Manipur, spilling into Mizoram, where similar fault lines could be exploited. The implications of this intelligence are grave, as they suggest a coordinated effort to destabilise the northeastern region and undermine India’s sovereignty.
Centre’s response has been inadequate, reactive rather than proactive. Despite the deployment of security forces and sporadic crackdowns on militant factions, there appears to be little cohesive strategy to address the root causes of the conflict or to counter the rising threat of separatism. The abduction and subsequent killings are a stark indicator of the government’s inability to secure its citizens and maintain control in the region.
Manipur and Mizoram, both strategically significant states, have become potential flashpoints for a larger geopolitical game. Foreign powers, keen on weakening India’s internal cohesion, may see these conflicts as an opportunity to stoke unrest. The Kuki militants’ push for greater autonomy—or even secession—must be viewed within this broader context of external interference and internal vulnerability.
The tragedy in Manipur demands more than condemnation; it demands action. The remaining abducted women and children must be rescued, and their safety must become the nation’s highest priority. Those who carried out these heinous acts must face swift and unrelenting justice. But justice is not enough. It will not bring back the lives that were lost, nor will it heal the wounds inflicted on the families. What Manipur needs is peace—lasting, meaningful peace.
This peace cannot come from military victories or political posturing. It must come from dialogue, reconciliation, and a commitment to addressing the grievances that have fuelled this conflict for generations. Both the Meitei and Kuki communities must find a way to coexist, to see each other not as enemies but as fellow human beings. The alternative is a future filled with more hatred, more violence, and more innocent lives lost.
We must not let the memory of these children fade into the background of history. They must be remembered as symbols of what happens when hatred is allowed to flourish. They must be remembered as a call to action for all of us to stand against such acts of barbarity, to say, with one voice, that this is not who we are, and this is not who we want to be.
The pain of these losses is immeasurable, but it must not be in vain. Let it fuel a collective determination to end the violence, to protect the innocent, and to ensure that no child ever suffers such a fate again. Only cowards kill children, but only the brave can stand up to such evil and demand a better, more compassionate world. Let us be brave.
* Savio Rodrigues is the founder and editor-in-chief of Goa Chronicle.