10 Kuki MLAs Condemn Police Highhandedness in Tengnoupal, urge to book erring personnel

The 10 Kuki MLAs condemned the unprofessional conduct and inhumane excesses of the Manipur Police particularly the commandos against many innocent and helpless Kuki-Zomi- Hmar civilians in Tengnoupal District, especially in Moreh during ongoing operations in the aftermath of the unfortunate incident at Moreh on October 31, 2023 in which Ch. Anand Kumar, MPS , SDPO Moreh died.

A statement issued by the 10 MLAs on Thursday said while the loss of life of the officer in the line of duty is condoled, the elected representatives highlighted the continuing excesses and atrocities perpetrated by the state forces against their people in Moreh and other places in Tengnoupal district based on ground reports. On November 1, 2023, Sinam Kuki Village in Tengnoupal district was attacked and houses and properties/vehicles destroyed by the Manipur Police commandos.

In the operation that is underway at Moreh, the State Forces resorted to arson, indiscriminate firing, looting of civilian properties, vehicles, household items, including valuable ornaments/documents/gold/cash and unprovoked brutality forcing common people, including women and children to flee into the nearby jungle. Several women have been mercilessly assaulted/molested by the commandos and admitted in the local hospital.

"While we understand that the State Police may be hard pressed to nab the culprit (s) responsible, we cannot condone the unrestrained illegal and barbaric activities of the commando and state police personnel," the MLAs said, adding that the lack of faith that the people have in the state forces stemmed from the innumerable instances of their direct involvement in attacking Kuki-Zomi-Hmar villages during the current conflict.

The MLAs have been voicing the serious concern and apprehension their people have against deployment of Manipur Police Commandos at various forums, including the centre government and requesting for the non-deployment in the Kuki -Zomi- Hmar dominated districts of Manipur. Inspite of this, more and more strength of the commandos have been dispatched to Moreh resulting in fresh disturbances and violence.

Appealing the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India to intervene into the matter at once and ensure withdrawal of all the commandos deployed in Moreh and other Kuki-Zomi-Hmar tribal areas and replace them with neutral central forces, the 10 MLAs demanded that all erring state police/commando personnel should be booked as per law.