Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh on Monday escaped unhurt when suspected militants of the Isak-Muivah faction of National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) opened fire, allegedly targeting him, just as he was getting out of his chopper at Ukhrul helipad.
A jawan of Manipur Rifles was injured in the firing. The incident came barely hours after Sunday’s twin grenade blasts in Ukhrul in which a jawan of India Reserve Battalion was injured.
Official sources said accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, Ibobi had gone to the state’s Naga-majority Ukhrul to inaugurate some government projects. The visit came when a strong public mood was building against the chief minister. The powerful Tangkhul Naga Long had called Ukhrul district bandh on Monday protesting the visit.
According to defence sources, hundreds of protestors had congregated outside the helipad to prevent Ibobi from visiting the places.
“The chief minister was to have inaugurated a district hospital and two power sub stations but he left due to the violent protests, during which three police vehicles were torched,” the sources said.
From the helipad, the chopper carrying Ibobi took off for Chingai in the district but could not land there as protests were being staged even there too. Later, it flew back to Manipur capital Imphal where the chief minister convened an emergency Cabinet meeting, The New Indian Express reported.
The Tangkhul (tribe) Nagas are in a large majority in Ukhrul which is one of the four Naga-majority districts of Manipur. It is also the birthplace of NSCN-IM general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah. The Tangkhul Naga Long, which is the apex social organisation of the Tangkhuls, was miffed with Ibobi for his attempt to inaugurate the 100-bed hospital where the work was allegedly not completed.
Ibobi is a strong critic of the NSCN-IM and its contentious demand for the creation of “Greater Nagaland”. The major Naga insurgent group envisages the creation of Greater Nagaland by slicing off the Naga inhabited areas of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
Given the rebels’ demand, the Manipuris are worried about Manipur’s territorial integrity. Ibobi has made it clear time and again that his Congress government will not allow even an inch of the state’s land to be ceded. A few years back, his government had thwarted Muivah’s attempt to visit Ukhrul on the ground that the territorial limit of the NSCN-IM’s ceasefire with the Centre was within the state of Nagaland.
The NSCN-IM, which has been in peace mode since 1997 following its signing of ceasefire agreement, has held over 70 rounds of talks with the Centre but a solution continues to elude the Nagas.