Submitted license gun used by Arambai Tenggol, says ITLF; condemns incessant attacks on Kuki-Zo villages

Licensed guns that were submitted to the concerned district Superintendent of Police offices were found to have been used by Arambai Tenggol in their attack on the Kuki Zo community, alleged the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF).

A press release issued on Monday stated that one such gun was found by Holjakai of Hengsi Village with the inscription “Arambai Tenggol Set 2.”

The press statement stated that the Home Minister, Amit Shah, recently visited Manipur from May 29th to June 1st, 2023. Despite his request for a peaceful 15-day period, free from violence, his visit was marred by the Meitei Armed group’s violent attacks on the Kuki-Zo community, it said.

"On May 30th, 2023, the Meiteis burned down eight villages in Chandel and seven villages in Kangpokpi. On June 4th, 2023, they burned down 15 villages, 15 churches, and 11 schools in the Sugnu areas. Tragically, since Amit Shah’s visit, 10 lives have been lost in the ethnic war in Manipur," it stated.

ITLF also stated that incidents of arms looting from the state forces and the burning down of tribal villages by Meitei separatists, radicalized Arambai Tenggol and Meetei Leepun with tacit support of Meitei-centric state forces continued.

The Chief Minister of Manipur and the Member of Parliament for Inner Manipur continued to hold their silence on those accounts, even as the state burnt and lives were lost every single day, it said.

ITLF said the common apprehension now is that the 15 days of peace offered by Amit Shah is just a passage given to the Meitei community to annihilate the tribals. It is evident that the Meitei community is determined to break the peace, even as the Union Home Minister appeals for it.

ITLF strongly condemned the incessant attacks and the ongoing process of ethnic cleansing of the Kuki-Zo community, while urging the central government to put an end to the violence against Manipur’s tribals and provide stronger security to safeguard them until a lasting political solution is found.