KIM rebuts false allegations of COCOMI, writes to Union Home Minister

The Kuki Inpi Manipur has rebutted the false allegations made by the Co-ordination Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) and clarified that the Kukis in no case had gone on any offensive action against Meitei people, be it in the peripheral or valley areas.

On Tuesday, the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) wrote to the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, through the security advisor/in charge of Unified Command, Government of Manipur, Kuldeep Singh, stating that it was the Meitei forces who provoked and attacked the Kuki villagers.

In the letter, KIM demanded that the Centre should immediately ensure complete recovery of looted arms from Meitei militia and take fitting action against them by declaring them 'outlawed.' KIM also urged the Centre to rein in the communal state forces such as Manipur police commandos, Police, Manipur Rifles (MR), and Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) personnel in the valley by disbanding them. KIM reiterated that the future of Kuki lay only in total separation from Manipur and the Meiteis.

The Kuki apex body stated that the Meitei civil society organizations (CSOs) have time and again displayed their ulterior agenda regarding the ongoing pogrom against the Kuki people which have the potential to mislead the uninformed public as well as escalating the violence to new heights. It is very unfortunate that the Meitei CSOs including the 'Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity' (COCOMI) are all out to blame the Kuki community for the ethnic cleansing on them and indulging in other prejudicial activities and hate-filled comments instead of seeking ways to end the violence, KIM stated.

The letter stated that the COCOMI, in a representation to Amit Shah, brazenly accused the 'Kuki militants' of intensifying attacks on Meitei villages since June 1 and also listed several incidents from June 1 to June 3 wherein armed Kuki militants were said to be the aggressors. However, KIM claimed that in all the incidents that the COCOMI had mentioned and others which had not been mentioned, it was the heavily armed Meitei militia masquerading as mob, led and guided by Manipur State forces such as police commandos, IRB and MR personnel who provoked and attacked the helpless Kuki civilians and village guards.

The State sponsored Meitei forces comprising the Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun militias even resorted to indiscriminate shelling of heavy mortar on Kuki civilian areas. The nexus between State forces and radical Meitei militias - the Arambai Tenggol, are proven beyond doubt stated the letter, it stated.

KIM also mentioned that a lady journalist from a reputed national media house was escorted out of Imphal last week with a harrowing experience of threats even from 'senior official' after she filed a damning report about the encounter between Indian security forces and the Arambai Tenggol militias at Sugnu.

Despite the appeal made by Amit Shah to surrender arms which were snatched from numerous security personnel/camps by Meitei mob, just a negligible few have been surrendered so far perhaps as a cover up exercise. The thousands of arms and ammunitions snatched from security personnel are used to attack the defenseless villages in the periphery resulting in the loss of many lives and properties and displacement of villagers, KIM alleged, while expressing concern that unless the looted arms were recovered, the Meiteis' attack on Kuki people would continue and the violence would be protracted.

KIM also mentioned the list of Kuki villages burned down since 30th May, which included 30 houses (4 injured) at K. Songlung under Kangchup area from June 2 to June 5; Bethel and Nakhojang (50 houses burned (1 injured and evacuated at Leimakhong Military hospital) on June 3; Sahumphai, Gangpijang, Sohkom, Thingbongphai, Lonpi-Khunou, Nazareth, Munpi, Hebron, Utengpokpi, Khongnangpheisabi, Kotsophai, Khopijang, SIngtom, U. Thingkangphai under Sugnu area (400 houses burned down and 6 injured) from 1-5 june; Natjang, Nongda Kuki under Saikul area with approximately 250 houses burnt on june 2.

The list also included L. Phaijang, Leimakhong, Ex-service Colony, Leimakhong KBC colony and Leilon Saronphai under Leimakhong area with  one dead, 80 houses burned down, 5 year old boy killed and one injured on June 3. Kamu Saichang, Molkonbung, Chaningpokpi, L. Molnom, Kamu, K. Nongdam, Maphou Kuki, N. Mollen, T. Natjang and Monglham under Leimakhong area with more than 280 houses burnt and 10 deaths(approx) under Phailengmol area from 30 May to June 4. Luwang Sanggol Kuki attacked by Arambai Tengol and Meitei Commandos on June 5; Seloijang, Bethel Phai with 100 houses burnt on 30 May and Khengmol and Khodang with 45 houses burnt on 31 May.

Notwithstanding the facts and figures, KIM said, the Meitei CSOs have relentlessly gone on the offensive to label unfounded charges against the helpless Kuki people to suit their interest and agenda. It pointed out that the Kuki villagers were left to fend for themselves against the onslaught of the well-armed neighbouring invaders and were compelled to open retaliatory gunfire with their licensed weapons.

"The irony is that the village defense volunteers are labelled as 'militants' or terrorists' by the communal Meitei Chief Minister and his loyal CSOs who acted as his devoted spokesmen," KIM stated.

Even on the day of Amit Shah's visit to the state on 30 May to 2nd June, the Arambam Tenggol and Meitei Leepun with the help of state forces particularly the police, commando, IRB and Manipur Rifles shamelessly attacked many Kuki villages and burnt down without any hesitation. Such attack clearly showed direct challenge and disrespect to the authority of the Union Government, the letter stated while adding that the village volunteers engaged the ‘marauders’ in gunfights and forced them to retreat. This solid fact can be ascertained from neutral agencies and forces present in the ground.

KIM also stated that it was unfortunate that irresponsible Meitei organizations such as COCOMI stoop so low to demand action against Kuki militants for the action perpetrated by the state sponsored forces. The terror unleashed against Kuki tribal people in Imphal valley since May 3 and their unabated offensive activities in the foothill areas to this day is haunting them, it said.

KIM said, "The person(s) who orchestrate/s this infamous pogrom against the Kuki people deserves to be declared 'terrorist' than people who defend their ancestral land from aggression by their neighbours."

"Besides all the distressing ordeals, the Kuki tribal people are quite often cornered with unfounded charges from the Meitei CSOs and Meitei press in their attempt to justify and project the ongoing pogrom to suit their agenda and narratives," it stated.

KIM also demanded that the Manipur government should immediately stop sending its forces in the periphery areas to attack Kuki villages. Unless the provocative attacks are stopped, the violence would continue.

KIM also strongly condemned the use of mortar and bombs against Kuki civilians by the communal State forces, stating that the Kuki people have been keenly observing the incidents unfolding day after day since the violence started last month.

"It has become more evident that the State sponsored ethnic cleansing against Kuki tribal people has crossed the tolerable limit. The pogrom at Imphal valley and then the subsequent attacks in the peripheral areas revealed the hidden agenda persistently pursued by the Biren led Manipur government and the Meitei CSOs," KIM added.