Taking a serious note over the reckless bid to infiltrate the proscribed PLA cadres into Manipur from Myanmar, the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), the apex body of Kuki Tribes, has termed the issue as "unacceptable and must be vehemently condemned". It called upon the central government to appropriately address the matter immediately as it heightened National security concerns.
"The Kuki Inpi is grievously appalled by the Manipur government's brazen
attempt to infiltrate cadres of People's Liberation Army (PLA), a Myanmar-based Meitei militant group, to exploit the ongoing ethnic unrest in Manipur which have heightened national security concerns," said a statement issued by the Kuki apex body on Thursday.
Janghaolun Haokip, Secretary, Information and Publicity, KIM, said the Meitei militants, notorious for their ruthless attacks that have claimed the lives of hundreds of Indian armed forces personnel, besides engaging in molestation and rape of women, extortion and forceful collection of taxes from civilians, and grave violation of Human Rights pose an imminent threat to regional security and stability. He recalled the ambush and attack on November 13, 2021, resulting in the deaths of Colonel Viplav Tripathi, his wife, their nine-year-old son, and four paramilitary forces jawans, and the ruthless attack on 6th Dogra Regiment that had claimed the lives of 20 security force personnel in Chandel district in 2015, among others.
In the ongoing ethnic strife in Manipur, the Kuki Inpi alleged that the Meitei militants, working in tandem with PLA and UNLF have engaged in brutal killings, mutilation; including beheading and burning of people.
"This ill-advised maneuver to infiltrate PLA cadres into Manipur will exacerbate the current law and order situation in the region and endanger the lives of innocent civilians while also posing a serious threat to the safety and security of the Kuki people amidst the ongoing ethnic persecution by the Manipur state government against the Kukis," KIM said, adding that the Manipur government's misguided priorities, favoring the interests of violent extremists was utter disrespect for the lives of soldiers and policemen lost to bring normalcy in the region.
Subsequently, the Kuki Inpi called on the central government to immediately intervene and end such ill-conceived plan of the N.Biren Singh led Manipur state government and incompetent security officials in the Manipur government whose principle aim is to carry out further aggressions against the Kuki people.
The Kuki apex body also said it was ultimate for the central government to bring about a permanent political solution to safeguard the Kuki people from incessant exploitation and persecution as equal citizens of the country, thereby upholding the integrity of the nation.
The Hills Journal
K. Salbung, Churachandpur
Manipur-795128