Manipur's Kangpokpi top tribal bodies oppose the Government's decision to deploy additional forces along highways

The top tribal bodies of Kuki-Zo in Manipur vehemently opposed the Manipur state Government's decision to deploy additional security forces for the convenience and security of the people using the highways.

On December 21, the Home Department of the Government of Manipur issued a public notice for the deployment of additional forces Imphal-Kangpokpi-Mao highway and Imphal-Bishnupur-Churachandpur highway for the convenience and security of the people.

The Government also appointed two senior police officers to monitor the two routes wherein the convoy (trucks/vehicles) will start moving from 9:00 am onwards.

Movement of the convoy (trucks/vehicles) with the deployment of additional forces under the command of the two appointed senior police officers will be effective from December 23.

Alleging the Government's decision as partisan and in favor of only one community, the Committee on Tribal Unity Sadar Hills condemned and opposed in the strongest terms.

The CoTU's Information Secretary, who headed the Committee's Media Cell said that the top Kuki-Zo tribal body considered the Manipur Government's Home Department notice as to portray normalization in a violence-hit state so that the invidious affairs of the state is concealed.

He pointed out that it is a well-known fact that sporadic frisking to identify Kuki-Zo in the Imphal Valley continued unabated and even a fool would not make the mistake of traveling to the Imphal valley.

He also said that the Kuki-Zo populace is emotionally separated from the valley of death i.e. Imphal and we are pursuing our political separation from the state of Manipur.

"The intentional conjecture of the home department, which is headed by the Chief Minister instantly exposed its authoritarian disposition and partisan administration", he asserted.

The Kuki-Zo community does not accept any kind of tyrannical policies detrimental to our survival and well-being, he added.

While appealing to the state government to withdraw its order in toto, the Committee on Tribal Unity cautioned that any untoward incidents arising out of it be the sole responsibility of the concerned authorities.

Meanwhile, the Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills, or KISH also conveyed its vehement opposition to the Manipur Government's Home Department Public Notice.

Paojalal Hangshing, Assistant Secretary of KISH said that the Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills is appalled by the state government's Public Notice regarding opening the "never closed" Imphal-Kangpokpi-Mao highway for free passage of Meitei civilians while the movement of the Kuki-Zo community continued to be neglected even for the safe retrieval of their properties and for their safe passage to Imphal airport since the outbreak of the ethnic pogrom on May 3 by the Meiteis.

He said that the Manipur Government was not able to protect the Kuki-Zo communities while we were hunted and murdered in broad daylight in Imphal and they have not been able to ensure the safe passage of life saving medicines and essential commodities for the Kuki-Zo community yet they are trying to prioritize the needs of Meitei while neglecting the needs of Kuki-Zo community.

While strongly condemning the Manipur Government for their alleged discrimination against the Kuki-Zo community, the Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills clarified that any untoward incidences meted out to Meitei civilians in their movement along the highway will solely be the responsibility of the state government.

It also cautioned the Meitei civilians to tread with care when tensions are high and not to be misled by the sugar-coated policies of the Manipur state government.