To fight elements of nature, the trustworthy contraceptive is being put to good use

To fight elements of nature, the trustworthy contraceptive is being put to good use

To fight elements of nature, the trustworthy contraceptive is being put to good use

In the more than four-month-long ethnic strife in Manipur where Meitei plainsmen and Kukis from the hills are pitted in a bloody battle against each other that has claimed more than 160 lives till now, a new use has emerged for the good old trustworthy condom.

Primarily used as a contraceptive to prevent pregnancy and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases during intercourse, the elastic and water-proof  device is now being used to cover the nozzle or the tip of gun barrels to protect the weapon from humidity and rainwater getting in which may cause the weapon to misfire.

The practice of using condoms in such a manner is recorded in the First World War (1914-1918) and also during the protracted Vietnam War (1955-1975).

Manipur has a humid weather and rains are frequent, posing a risk to the licensed single barrel and muskets that are very common among most communities in the beleaguered state.

Moreover, hunting is a way of life especially in the hills, as a result of which almost every household has a single-barreled licensed gun although not of the sophisticated variety.

And not just the rain, the condom prevents dirt or mud from entering the barrel of the gun. Such foreign material inside the barrel may also cause the gun barrel to explode while firing.

A directive purported to be issued by the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) on Wednesday has ‘informed’ the Meitei community not to misinterpret the use of condoms.

It said: “Due to shortage of polythene bags in the Churachandpur district, condoms are being used in place of polythene bags to carry food items including rice, vegetables, meat etc…”

“Above all, the condoms also serve as a solution for carrying electronic gadgets like mobile phones and walkie-talkie sets including covering the tip of the licensed gun used by the frontliners.”

“Since it is a rainy season, to prevent the said items from getting soaked which may result in its malfunctioning,” the directive added.

Manipur’s social fabric is in tatters because of the ongoing conflict with the divide between the Meiteis and the Kukis almost complete. All Meiteis have all but disappeared from the Kuki-dominated areas and Kukis have fled Meitei-dominated areas.

The two-way exodus began after violent fights, gunfights and arson amid shocking brutalities were sparked off by a scuffle on May 3 in Churachandpur during a protest by tribal students.

With insecurity talking over, a rampaging public indulged in a looting spree of weapons from police armouries both in the valley and in the hills especially on the days of May 3, May 4, May 6, May 28 and May 29 when about 4,537 weapons including at least 174 AK-47s, 551 INSAS rifles and 101 LMGs, 406 carbines, five 51 mm mortars, 503 pistols besides more than 5 lakh rounds of ammunition were looted.

These weapons have only added to a big stash of illegal arsenal that existed across the state that has seen decades of armed insurgencies resulting in an extensively weaponised society.