Along Barak river in Assam-Manipur border seems calm, but not really

Silchar/Jiribam: Over the past few years, Assam’s borders with various states have been the focus of various disputes and in the case of Mizoram, six Assam Police personnel were killed in July 2021. The killing of six Meghalaya residents by Assam Police personnel in Mukroh’s Meghalaya village has escalated tensions between the two states and put lives of civilians at risk. So, when Media reported on the rising tension on the Assam-Manipur border, it was only natural that the story was shared and circulated.
Unlike Assam’s borders with Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland and even Arunachal, its border with Manipur has been relatively quiet. Hence, it came as a shock to many when two Manipur-bound women were allegedly abducted from a boat on February 6 and dragged along the Barak River by the Village Defense Force (VDF) of Jirimukh. Left in an “unsafe” location.
The two women were traveling by boat from Sonbari in Cachar district of Assam to attend a religious program in Manipur.

But why were women left in such a vulnerable position? Because they did not have an Inner Line Permit (ILP) to enter Manipur. Later the people of Sonbari brought him back to the village.
Subsequently, residents of Sonbari in Lakhipur assembly constituency of Cachar started patrolling the riverside area to prevent public transport or private boats from Manipur from entering Assam territory through the waterway.

The patrol was withdrawn after the intervention of police officials from both the states.
‘Manipur authorities regularly harassed by village defense forces’
Local people of Assam say that the February 6 incident is just one example of harassment in Manipur.
Sonbari, which has a population of about 1,100 people, falls under the Fulertal village panchayat, about 45 km from Silchar and about 20 km from the Assam-Manipur inter-state border (Jirighat-Jiribam) point. Fishermen belonging to the Bengali community constitute eighty percent of the village population.
Pintu Das, a 40-year-old resident of Sonbari, said that fishermen were regularly harassed by VDF members in Jirimukh for not having ILP papers.

“VDF members ask for ILP even when fishermen fish on behalf of Assam and receive their catch,” Pintu alleged.
Kisan added that the matter was raised with Lakhipur MLA Kaushik Rai through a memorandum submitted on February 8, but no action has been taken so far.

Anjan Das, a 26-year-old boatman who has to travel to Manipur for work, alleged that VDF members specifically target and harass Bengalis. “They harass us and demand money from us,” alleged Anjan.
Sanat Das, a 43-year-old fisherman, said many people from Sonbari have relatives in Manipur, but they cannot go to the border state “because of the ILP issue”.

“A few months ago, a man could not visit his sick daughter, who is married in this state. The man ran from pillar to post to get ILP but failed to do so. Later he got news. “He found that his daughter had passed away. He could not even see his daughter for the last time,” he said.
Other residents Bablu Das, Joy Das, Abhijit Das and Rantu Das also made similar allegations and appealed to the authorities to take necessary action.
“Every allegation will be examined”
However, Jiribam SP Ksh. Ravikumar Singh denied claims of regular harassment. Talking about the February 6 incident, Singh said around 12 people were going to Manipur on a boat to attend a religious function and all but two women had ILP passes.
“Perhaps the two women were not aware of ILP or could not get it from the ILP office for some reason. Our officers told them that they could go to Manipur without ILP papers, as the venue of the event was on the border,” he said. But will have to return on the same day. They were warned that if they were found staying in this condition for 2-3 days without ILP pass, the police would arrest them or fine them. The officers requested them to Go back, get ILP papers and come back if they want to stay in Manipur for a few days. We don’t have a launch (motorboat) to deport people. The women themselves came back,’ SP said.
When Media visited Jiribam district, about 50 km from Silchar city, the officer-in-charge of Jiribam police station near the Assam Manipur (Jirighat-Jiribam) border post and other security personnel commented on the February 6 incident. Refused to do.
Another official from Jiribam police station said on condition of anonymity that people other than permanent residents of Manipur and foreigners are eligible to get ILP. “We have not received any complaint about ILP from anyone till date,” the official said when asked about the allegations of people (of Sonbari) not providing ILP.
Jiribam SP Ravikumar Singh said that VDF members or the police would never ask money (illegally) from people.
“Police can ask for ILP fee or money for its renewal and receipts are provided for the same. At the ILP counter, there is a proper ILP pass generation system. People can also book ILP online and counter. but can collect the pass after showing the details of ILP online registration,” he said in response to complaints from the people of Sonbari about regular demand of money by VDF members and non-issuance of ILP passes even after that. said while giving A visit to the ILP office in Jiribam.
The SP urged the general public to contact any VDF member or police official directly if they demand or take money forcibly. “We will conduct a proper enquiry. The name of the complainant will not be disclosed,” he said.
Singh termed the allegation against VDF members and the police of targeting Bengalis as “absolutely false”. He added that the ILP system introduced in 2022 is being implemented and there is a need to create a lot of awareness among the general public for their proper understanding.
Currently, there are two ILP counters in Jiribam – at Jiribam-Jirighat highway point and at Jeribam rail station.
“I have requested the Deputy Commissioner of Jiribam to set up an ILP counter at Jirimukh waterway. Some people come to Manipur by highway, some by railway and some by waterway. ILP at Jirimukh Setting up of counters will help people to get ILP pass while traveling through waterways. So, if they forget to collect ILP pass, people can go to a new counter at Jirimukh from highway or railway station. Plus they won’t have to go back to pick it up,” said the SP.
He said that the Deputy Commissioner has written a letter to the concerned authorities about the matter. He hoped that the ILP counter would be set up in Jirimukh very soon.

For now, things are back to normal on both sides of the border, but residents of Sonabari believe it is a matter of them being targeted again.