ultimately the dead are the only looser. But why kill, why destroy   something which is God's own creation, every human being is a   biological rarity. Why destroy something that you and I cannot create. In a place where criminal justice of the land has lost its   relevance murder and killings are justified that the land must have   lost its significance.

In this tussle (some call it conflict) between the state and the non-state the people have willy-nill been dragged into an unpleasant situation. They are confronted with the Hobson's choice. Both want to control and win the confidence of the people. Both apply strategies where more often then not people become the victim and the tool at the some time. In the advent of any underground related activity, the state forces resort to torture and harassment of the common people with the hope that this would help keep away the people from underground elements.

Government forces resort to unscrupulous and callous act: and there has been all kinds of allegations of rapes, killings, footings and tortures. But since Govt. forces are protected by a special provision of the law the charges do not stick. And on other hand opportunity to draw the people the underground people see it as an opportunity towards them. And they highlight the atrocities of the government. forces hoping to draw the people towards them. This strategy must have been age old strategy, which much has lost its significance. It has outlived its utility. Both the state and non-state may have benefited to a varying degrees at different given time and situation. But this has not served its purpose. It has not helped anybody neither the state nor the non-state. Instead people have suffered in the process. And justice is the casualty. In the place where justice no longer exists anarchy must prevail.

Who is to blame? Was the situation so bad six or seven years ago? No one is claiming the situation was ever normal in the state. It has been bad but is has never been as bad as it is today. The blame must squarely lie on the incumbent Government. Previously there was always a proper demarcation between the state and non- State.players. There wasn't much interference from one another. It Was two parallel lines where the twain didn't cross each other. And it must remain so. But today we have reached a situation where we don't know who is controlling what and whom. Just to cite an example - who fixes the price of food items supplied through the

public distribution system? Who gives or controls the government contracts? Who controls the education system? These are a few unpleasant questions that need be asked. In short, there is a complete breakdown of the civil administration. The innumerable non-state or the underground outfits in the state have infiltrated the civil administration so much so that the administrative machineries are completely paralyzed. All the Government Official are just a phone call away and their dictates have to be followed. It has now come to such a situation where every body is benefiting. We don't know who is benefiting from whom. It is no longer a secret that deals are struck and a mutual benefit scheme is worked out. Anyone related to any of the state or non-state players can benefit. Compromise is the keyword. But is this Governance? Development is the present mantra used by the Government to hoodwink the people. Mr. P.A. Sangma who propounded the theory "development" then "peace" must be lamenting where he wept wrong. He must now be wanting to rethink on this theory again.

Development is not about constructing malls, huge shopping complex, and flyovers. Why has development got to be construction related only? Development is not about making lmphal into a Hong- Kong or a New York. Look at the economy of the state today. Has there been any honest attempt to raise the life style of the people ?   ls there any scheme worth its name to develop the economy that can uplift the living standard of the poor ? And who is tackling the menace of unemployment. Economy is in shambles, a complete failure.

Development is about eradicating poverty, hunger, giving employment and providing education, civics amenities like drinking water, electricity and memorable roads. May be construction related development is more economically lucrative to a few who are involved in the deal than a social upliftment programme.

Law and Order cannot be maintained by increasing the number of police forces only. The number of Police personnel has increased in the last one year or so. The promise is to keep a police outpost in almost every locality. And we hear that more is on the pipeline. The number is going to increase further. One is not denying the requirements of more personnel in the police force but more than the number quality has also to be maintained. We keep reading of atrocities involving police personnel and the rising unwanted killings.

Allegation of charges like harassment of innocent people or even   killing some of them because they were carrying cash are out in the   Recently there was a report of extortion attempt from the son open. of a highly place Officer by a few police personnel. The incident   me to light because the victim happens to be the children of has come an officer. Things would have been completely different had the     victim been Some common man. It would not be fair to blame all   the police officials but the atmosphere is rife with such anecdotes.   When the protector of our lives and properties becomes the   perpetrator of crime things get scary. But how have things come to   such a stage ? Is it any longer a secret that the price tag of selection of new officers to the police department went up to astronomical     sum of seven figures ? This new recruits were born out of this murky deal where everyone including Ministers, MLAs, officers had a role to play. Everybody is rumored to have had a share in theloot.

The insinuation is obvious. Any illegitimate conception is bound to produce illegitimate child. Any thought conceived out of wrong deeds is bound to produce a deformed idea. How is the huge sum of amount coughed out during the selection process of the officers ever going to be recovered? Not by the paltry salary given by the government.

Manipur today is sinking. Government is to protect and safe guard the lives of common people. The Government must take the blame for the situation it has reached today. For all its act or inaction or omission or commission the situation today has reached a point of no return. Patricia Muikhim Shillong based journalist recently said that militancy in North East has reached as saturation point and exceeded its "life span" And said problem in Manipur is "pure law and order problem which has been given the euphemism of insurgency, it is just looting and extortion". Problems just cannot be wished way something must needs be done. Extraordinary situation demands extraordinary deeds and approach