13 Kuki-Zo Villages burnt down; KIM condemns unabated attacks on Kuki villages

The Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), an apex body of Kuki tribes, on Thursday vehemently condemned the unabated attacks on Kuki villages allegedly by combined Meitei terrorist forces despite the peace initiative of the Central Government.

Many Kuki Villages have suffered intensified attacks in the last few days. Since 12th June, several Kuki villages in and around Saikul area under Kangpokpi district, have been vandalized, looted and torched. Khopibung village was burnt down on June 12; Khamenlok, Chullouphai, A. Phainom, A. Leikot, and Aigejang were burnt down on June 13; Thombol, Zoldanphai, Songjang, Govajang, Thangza, Phailengjang and Saijang were burnt down on June 14.

In its press condemnation, KIM brought to the public notice that when Songjang and Govajang Village were attacked and burnt, the Chief Minister of Manipur, N.Biren Singh was present at Nongsum Leikai which is adjacent to Khopibung Village.

KIM also expressed its concern that constant attack on Kuki population by radical Meitei terrorist forces and indiscriminate gun-fire were reported at Kangvai, Churachandpur district, in the night of 13th and 15th June. In addition to this, Minister Nemcha Kipgen quarter was set ablaze by Radical Meitei miscreants on the evening of 14th June, KIM stated and urged that mmediate action must be taken against those Radical Meitei terrorist who burnt down government property.

The Kuki apex body said it trusts the Centre Government's assurance and the peace initiative. However, it said, the Kukis came under constant attacks from the Meitei terrorists. It is very clear to all that the Kukis only defended their villages against incursion from the neighbouring community who are backed by the State forces. To the dismay of the people, no action has been taken up against the terrorist groups/forces that provoked and attacked the Kuki villages and their population, KIM stated.

KIM alleged that all those fresh attacks on the Kuki villages were the outcome of the open war declaration made by the Meitei extremist group- COCOMI. COCOMI has dissuaded the 'Meitei public' from surrendering arms looted from State armories saying that "it is not the time to surrender arms. The fact that surrendering of looted arms is under their diktat is prima facie evidence that they (COCOMI) are spearheading the militias, masquerading as mob, in looting arms from security forces and armories.

The Kuki Inpi said there is strong and valid apprehension that if the unlawful activities of extremist COCOMI are not checked, various Kuki villages in the periphery would come under attack one after another or together at one go from COCOMI militants/terrorists who are preparing for a sweeping offensive on our people.

KIM urged the Government of India to rein in those extremist elements and save the people from the extremist Meiteis' continuous onslaught aimed at exterminating the whole Kuki community.

"The State sponsored pogrom on our people in Imphal valley wherein people identified with Kuki ethnicity were segregated, attacked, killed or driven out of the valley is still a nightmare that continues to haunt our people," KIM added.