The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) has responded sharply to the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity’s (COCOMI) recent demand for the removal of the Assam Rifles from the state. The call for the paramilitary force’s removal comes amidst ongoing ethnic tensions and violence in Manipur, primarily affecting the minority Kuki-Zo tribes.
The ITLF accuses the Meitei community, which forms the majority in the region, of targeting the Assam Rifles due to the force’s extensive knowledge and experience in local geopolitics. According to the ITLF, the Assam Rifles’ impartiality has hindered the Meitei’s attempts to marginalize the Kuki-Zo tribes using state machinery.
One of the key incidents highlighting the conflict occurred on June 2, 2023, in Sugnu. An Assam Rifles truck reportedly blocked the entrance to a police station to prevent Meitei police commandos from leading mobs to attack tribal villages. Drone footage obtained by the ITLF allegedly shows police vehicles leading groups as they torched Kuki-Zo homes in Sugnu. Survivors from the surrounding villages have recounted similar experiences, claiming Meitei mobs were led by police and members of the Arambai Tenggol.
COCOMI’s accusations against the Assam Rifles, claiming they acted against Meitei interests in Sugnu and Serou, have been deemed contradictory by the ITLF. The majority of the villages burned in these areas belonged to the Kuki-Zo community, and the once-cosmopolitan town of Sugnu is now reportedly under complete Meitei control.
Despite facing hardships from the Assam Rifles, such as weapon confiscations and bunker destructions in Kuki-Zo areas, the ITLF continues to support all central security forces, including the Assam Rifles, for their non-partisan approach. The Assam Rifles, with their permanent bases and extensive experience, are viewed as the most capable force to enforce peace in the conflict-ridden state.
The ITLF also criticized the Manipur Police, particularly the commandos, for allegedly supporting the Meitei community and acting against the Kuki-Zo tribes. The organization urged the union government to disregard COCOMI’s demands, accusing the Meitei community of seeking to control the deployment of central security forces after already dominating state institutions.
The ITLF further condemned the tactic of using Meitei women to obstruct security forces while men engaged in the destruction of tribal villages. They called on the central government to recognize and address the biased actions of the state government and its police forces in the ongoing conflict.
