EP-214 | 16 Months, Over 225 Dead, Why is Manipur Still Burning? Ft. Lt Gen PC Nair (Retd)

ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash

Lieutenant General PC Nair (Retd.) is a distinguished retired officer of the Indian Army with a career spanning over four decades. He served as the Director General of the Assam Rifles, India’s oldest paramilitary force, where he played a crucial role in counter-insurgency operations in the North-East region.

Lt Gen Nair (Retd) has extensive expertise in dealing with insurgency, tribal dynamics, and border security. He is also known for his deep understanding of India’s internal security challenges, especially in volatile regions like Manipur, Nagaland, and Jammu & Kashmir,

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Lt. Gen. PC Nair discusses the tribal dynamics in Manipur, explaining how the Meitei, Kuki, and Naga communities each have their armed factions. He describes how the unrest in Manipur started over land rights, triggered by the High Court's decision to grant tribal status to the Meiteis, and how the violence grew.

Lt. Gen. Nair also condemned the looting of police armouries in the state and highlighted the Assam Rifles’ critical role in managing the unrest, noting their efforts helped prevent the situation from getting worse. He further explained how instability in Myanmar has contributed to the ongoing crisis in Manipur.

(00:00) Introduction

(01:14) Manipur's Current Situation

(02:58) Looted Arms in Manipur

(04:50) Origins of the Manipur Violence

(08:31) Kuki-Meitei Divide

(12:29) Reasons Behind Manipur Crisis

(14:22) Security Forces' Role

(16:37) Violence Despite Heavy Security

(18:45) Assam Rifles Under Fire

(23:27) Assam Rifles vs. Manipur Police

(25:34) Myanmar's Role in the Violence

(29:23) Scale of Violence

(32:27) Illegal Poppy Cultivation

(39:02) Arms Import into India

(41:02) What Fueled the Violence

(43:57) Solutions to Stop the Violence

(48:52) Has Manipur Been Ignored?

(49:59) Assam Rifles' Role in China Border Conflict

(53:19) Bangladesh Security Situation

(55:15) Bangladesh Crisis

(56:22) Bangladesh Crisis & Indian Borders

(58:07) Elections in J&K

(59:17) Insurgency in J&K