The Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum(ITLF) has stated that today's events in Imphal have shown that Manipur's government has submitted its authority to an armed militant group.
“Imposition of President's Rule is the only way the central government can prevent total anarchy in Manipur. If not now, then when?” ITLF stated in a release issued on Wednesday.
ITLF stated that tor the first time in history, a militia that led attacks on innocent civilians because of their ethnicity and which openly displays sophisticated weapons stolen from police armouries was able to order state lawmakers, including the chief minister, to attend a meeting it had called and made the MLAs endorse their demands
The release stated that Manipur state police and central security forces remained mute spectators as Arambai Tenggol leader Korounganba Khuman arrived at the venue in Imphal in a police vehicle, and the militant group proceeded to administer an oath-taking ceremony to the MLAs.
All these happened even as a special team sent by the central government is camping nearby in the city. Why did the world's largest democracy allow this? ITLF questions.
The release further stated that Korounganba Khuman is not some shadowy figure pulling the strings from behind and hiding what he does but he regularly posts pictures and videos of himself holding assault rifles, and publicly gives speeches before armed men calling for attacks on tribals.
Questioning the central government why it has not acted against Korounganba, ITLF stated that there are numerous videos of Arambai Tenggol cadres openly displaying sophisticated weapons stolen from armouries and that they do not even feel the need to hide the government-issued weapons.
The Hills Journal
K. Salbung, Churachandpur
Manipur-795128
