Manipur Chief Secretariat Under Fire for Accepting Inflammatory Memorandum

The Manipur Chief Secretariat has come under intense criticism for allegedly accepting a memorandum that contains inflammatory, provocative, and communally charged language. The document, reportedly submitted on January 8, 2025, accuses a group of serious offenses and issues an ultimatum for eviction, warning of "bloodshed" if the demands are not met.

Legal experts and social activists in Kangpokpi have raised concerns over how such a document, which appears to violate multiple provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), was received and acknowledged by a government office.

The memorandum signed by the Chief of Konsakhul village, along with the village authority's Chairman and Secretary in the village authority's letterhead was received by the Chief Secretary's office bearing R.R. No. 2302.

The memorandum accuses the Leilon Vaiphei community of violating a "lease agreement" and alleges anti-social activities targeting Naga villagers in the Konsaram area. It references an incident of alleged assault and outrage of modesty, followed by a demand for the eviction of the community within 15 days. The memorandum explicitly threatens violence, stating, “If there is any "bloodshed" spilled in the process of eviction, you will be held responsible for that.”

The memorandum’s language and content could constitute serious violations under the IPC Section 153A: Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, or community, and acts prejudicial to communal harmony; Section 503: Criminal intimidation, as the threat of forced eviction and potential bloodshed amounts to coercion, Section 505(1)(b): Statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred, or ill-will between classes, which may lead to a breach of public peace, etc.

Legal scholars have noted that accepting or acting upon such a memorandum could make the institution complicit in endorsing inflammatory rhetoric, thereby undermining the rule of law and violating the principles of neutrality and non-discrimination.

The acceptance of this memorandum has sparked outrage across Kangpokpi district as many view this as a failure of the Secretariat to uphold the constitutional mandate of maintaining public peace and communal harmony.

A Social activist in the district Len Haokip said, “By acknowledging such a document, the Manipur Chief Secretary's office risks legitimizing hate and violence. This sets a dangerous precedent and contradicts the very foundation of democratic governance.”

The incident raises pressing questions about the protocols in place for screening and rejecting communications that contain incendiary language. Public institutions are duty-bound to reject any representation that incites violence or undermines communal harmony. Accepting such documents not only emboldens perpetrators but also violates the trust of the public.

The Manipur Chief Secretariat must clarify its stance and initiate an internal investigation to determine how such a memorandum was processed. Furthermore, the individuals responsible for drafting and submitting the inflammatory content should face legal scrutiny.

In a volatile state like Manipur, where inter-ethnic relations are sensitive, it is imperative for government institutions to act as neutral and lawful arbiters. Accepting memorandums with threats of "bloodshed" undermines this role and risks further destabilizing the region. The Secretariat’s actions must align with the principles of justice, fairness, and communal harmony to prevent further deterioration of the situation.

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the critical role that government institutions play in fostering peace and must prompt a reevaluation of protocols to prevent such lapses in the future.