CoTU condemns repeated attacks by Meitei militants: Urges MHA for additional security forces

While condemning the barbarism of the Meitei militants for continuously intruding in the Hills, the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), Kanggui, has urged the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, to provide additional security forces in vulnerable villages.

In a statement on Saturday, the Kuki-Zo body said the repeated attacks by valley insurgents donning state forces uniforms continue unabated. The valley groups trespassed the buffer zone in the early morning and attacked Joupi village at 2.00 a.m. The village falls under Saitu Sub-Division of Kangpokpi district, located approx. 30 km from Bishnupur district headquarters.

In the unfortunate event, Mr. Khupminthang Haokip S/o Late Janglal Haokip of Phaikholum village was waylaid and killed.

The Committee stated that the only transportation and lifeline of the Kuki-Zo connecting Lamka and Kanggui is often disturbed by the valley insurgents. As promised by Amit Shah on his visit to Kuki-Zo areas on 31st May, he demarcated the hills and valley by installing buffer zones and Central forces are supposed to neutralise any aggression from both sides. However, it can be seen that the head of the state, Manipur, is inciting the valley groups to continue aggression, to breach the buffer zones with the task of killing, it alleged.

CoTU said: "Within a short span of time, nine persons have already been killed along the periphery mostly along the road between Kanggui and Lamka. The insecurity is now a grave concern so, the Union Home Ministry must provide additional central forces in vulnerable villages and the peripheral road connecting Kanggui and Lamka."

"It is truly alarming that the valley is now flooded with Meitei insurgents, incorporated amongst Arambai Tengol & Meitei Leepun (Rajya Sabha MP Sanajaoba & N. Biren Singh's millitias) & even amongst the State police forces," it added.

Stressing that the changing dynamics in Myanmar have forced these insurgents to immigrate in the Imphal valley, the tribal body alleged that the Union Home Ministry remained a mute spectator till date. It suggested that a judicious declaration of Imphal valley as "disturbed area" could stop the technical anarchy of N. Biren government.

"There is ample peace in the Kuki-Zo area until shattered by attacks from the valley," CoTU said, and urged the Union Home Ministry to remove the "disturbed tag" in Kuki-Zo areas for the sake of impartiality and restoring trust between the Kuki-Zo and the Union Home Ministry.