ITLF Condemns Brutal Attacks on Churches; Calls for Central Govt. to Clamp Down on Meitei Extremists

The Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) has strongly condemned the latest wave of violence in Jiribam, where at least five churches, a school, a petrol pump, and 14 homes belonging to the Kuki-Zo community were set ablaze by Meitei miscreants. The forum expressed outrage at the targeting of religious and civilian structures, particularly churches, in a region already torn apart by the ongoing conflict in Manipur.

In a statement issued today, the ITLF raised critical questions regarding the failure of security forces stationed in Jiribam to protect vulnerable sites, despite a Supreme Court directive to safeguard abandoned structures. The forum pointed out the alarming pattern of churches being destroyed, with over 360 churches reported to have been burned since the violence erupted, fueling concerns that the attacks may be part of a larger religious targeting strategy.

The violence reportedly began with an unprovoked assault on Zairawn village, where a combined force of Arambai Tenggol militants and other Meitei insurgent groups attacked the village, setting it on fire and killing a 31-year-old woman. Shockingly, security personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), stationed near the village, reportedly failed to intervene, remaining in their camp and not firing a single shot in defense of the villagers.

The ITLF also condemned the brutal killing of Haojoel Doungel, a 27-year-old native of Pangmol village, who was tortured and killed by Arambai Tenggol militants in Assam's Cachar district. His body was found with signs of torture, hands bound, and the ITLF has called on the Assam government to ensure greater vigilance to prevent further violence from spilling over into the state.

"The Meitei-centric state government continues to back Meitei militant groups, who have been arming themselves with weapons looted from state armouries and are carrying out coordinated attacks on tribal settlements," the statement read. "The central government must take immediate action to clamp down on these extremist groups and restore peace. Until the armed Meitei groups are neutralized, the violence will persist."

The ITLF further stressed the urgent need for a political solution that addresses the grievances of the Kuki-Zo community, which has borne the brunt of the violence. The forum warned that if the situation is allowed to escalate unchecked, the Kuki-Zo people may be forced to take more drastic measures to defend themselves.

"Every wave of violence in the past year has started with attacks on tribal communities by Meitei groups. If the central leadership does not act decisively, the Kuki-Zo people will have no choice but to retaliate more forcefully," the ITLF concluded.

The forum's statement calls for immediate intervention to prevent further bloodshed, urging the central government to take a firm stance against the armed Meitei militants and work toward a long-term political resolution for the region's complex ethnic conflict.