Manipur tribal bodies condemn deployment of additional state forces in border town Moreh, slams alleged 'staged-operation' and recovery of arms of state forces

Consequent upon the alleged forced attempt to deploy additional state forces in the border town Moreh by the Manipur state Government, the Kuki Inpi Tengnoupal District submitted its Charter of Demands to the Deputy Commissioner of Tengnoupal District as it also held a peaceful sit-in protest against it.

Kuki Inpi Tengnoupal Spokesperson, K. Haokip said that despite the adequate strength of security forces already deployed in Moreh, a small town inhabited by a small size of population and much against the wishes and continued objection of the people of Moreh, the Manipur State Government's repeated attempts to deploy additional state forces (Commando, IRB, etc) is questionable.

He also said that the Government of Manipur needs to disclose to the people what exactly is the intention.

He continued that Moreh is predominantly inhabited by the Kuki-Zo group of people, but no Kuki-Zo officer is being deputed or posted to run important Government departmental offices such as Police Station, etc. in Moreh or Tengnoupal district headquarters.

"There is no law and order problem in Moreh and Tengnoupal areas, and deployment of state forces is totally unnecessary", he added.

He also said that it would be wiser for the state Government not to disturb the existing peaceful atmosphere in Moreh.

He further said that the existing central forces are strong enough to protect the public, control, and maintain law and order.

Therefore, the Manipur Government's decision to induct more and more state machinery is nothing but a hidden strategy for the resettlement of Meiteis, he added.

He also pointed out that the joint meeting of all CSOs of Tengnoupal district comprising KCA Tengnoupal, KCA Moreh Block, HTC, KSO, KKL, KWU&HR, and MYC on October 20, demanded the Deputy Commissioner of Tengnoupal District to first fulfill it Charter of Demands.

The 10 points charter of demands are no resettlement program until Political settlement; to appoint tribal Kuki-Zo officers in Tengnoupal and Moreh Sub-Division; no further induction of state forces- Police CDO, IRB, and MR in Moreh/Tengnoupal; no chopper services for IRB, CDO, and MR; to remove the Meira Paibis checkpoint at Kakching Lamkhai and other areas; to disallow and release essential commodities often blockaded at the Kakching area; to remove all CDO posts and disallow CDO patrolling in and around Moreh; replacement of Manipur CDOs with Gorkha Regiment or any other central forces; proper re-verification of all state force personnel posted within the Tengnoupal district, and furnish a written response/assurance to the demands above.

Meanwhile, the Committee on Tribal Unity Sadar Hills Kangpokpi also held a sit-in protest against the alleged forceful deployment of additional state forces in the Tengnoupal district and the border town Moreh while vehemently slamming the alleged "staged-operations" and recovery of arms on several occasions.

The Committee expressed its dismay and shock over the prolonged presence of Meitei police Commandos in Moreh, a Kuki-Zo settlement in Tengnoupal District.

CoTU's sit-in-protest today at Gamgiphai protested against the alleged Manipur Government's ill-designed intention in forceful deployment of additional state forces in Tengnoupal District and the border town Moreh against the wishes of the people.

One of the CoTU Women Wing leaders said that despite the strong presence of para-military forces and the Indian army manning the buffer zones and securing tranquility within Moreh, the instant deployment of additional Meitei police through night choppers is of grave concern.

She said it signifies that N. Biren Singh is conspiring to create another wave of bloodshed in Moreh for which we will not be mute spectators.

She also said that the security advisor must in good faith withdraw the deployed Meitei police personnel and re-install a Kuki-Zo officer as a Superintendent of Police in Tengnoupal district for the sake of deterring imminent danger.

Meanwhile, CoTU also vehemently condemned the alleged staged-operation and recovery of arms by the state forces on several occasions.

The CoTU Women Wing leader said that on October 17 there was a claim regarding a search and cordon operation between Nungshun village and H. Khopibung village under the jurisdiction of Sagolmang police station Imphal East, where numerous arms and ammunition are said to be recovered.

She said that the Kuki-Zo locals were completely unaware of the said operation and later it was affirmed that it was a stage- operation.

She also pointed out that a similar incident occurred in the Khamenlok areas on October 20 while adding that the stage-operation was targeted to malign the Kuki-Zo volunteers for possessing illegal arms.

She then said that such a cheap narrative is the handiwork of the partisan government to depict the minority as the aggressor.

"It has now become imperative that the public and national media should be cautious while dealing with valley-based media houses.

The CoTU Women's Wing leader also said that the Kuki-Zo women of Kangpokpi district who are on an indefinite relay round the clock sit-in-protest will not back off and continue with the protest until Separate Administration for the Kuki-Zo is materialised.