Ten Kuki-Zo MLAs request PMO not to remove Assam Rifles from Manipur

Ten members of Manipur Legislative Assembly from Kuki-Zo communities have requested the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, not to remove the Assam Rifles (AR) from Manipur, citing apprehension that the removal could harm and jeopardize the safety and security of the Kuki-Zo people.

The MLAs appealed the Prime Minister to control the Manipur State Forces, curtail their powers and give direction not to violate the buffer zones manned by the Central Paramilitary Forces for restoration of peace in the State in public interest.

In this regard, the Kuki-Zo MLAs submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister stating that “the credibility of the Assam Rifles (AR), the oldest security forces protecting our motherland, India" internally and externally since its establishment, pre- and post-independence, is known to everyone.”

The MLAs expressed that they find the Assam Rifles jointly working hard together with other Central Forces like the BSF, ITBP, RAF, CRPF etc., to contain the situations in Manipur.

The memorandum stated that since the outbreak of ethnic strife in Manipur in May 2023, the unabated violence has led to deep mistrust between the Kuki-Zo-Hmar tribals and Meitei communities, which had been reflected in splitting of local state administration and law enforcing agencies too.

While a myriad of Central Forces has been rushed in the State including the Indian Army, BSF, CRPF, RAF & ITBP etc., the tribals have unwavering faith on the Central Forces, particularly the Assam Rifles as they stood the test of time and did their work without prejudice, bias, fear or compulsion, said Kuki-Zo MLAs.

The ten MLAs also stated that the Assam Rifles have majority of their troops from the North Eastern States of India and they have been guarding Manipur for very long and as such they are aware of the local dynamics. Though the AR have dealt the tribal miscreants, also with hard hand, but the tribals have seen them putting their lives at risk to stand as a wall to create Buffer Zones in areas which are inhabited by both warring communities, they said.

The MLAs stated that what sets the AR apart from other forces is their single-minded resolve to safeguard humanity, compassionate, yet firm-handling of highly tense situations and unbiased conduct. For such reasons, the MLAs said, the Assam Rifles is being falsely blamed by the Meiteis who are unable to execute their nefarious designs of targeting the tribals.

The people's representatives also reminded the Prime Minister that the Meiteis have snatched another 3000 (Three Thousand) government guns and ammunitions from the 2nd IRB located at Narenseina, Bishnupur District apart from the already looted 4500 (Four Thousand Five Hundred) arms from different Arms Kote in May 2023.

The MLAs further stated that a new and more worrisome trend has now come to the fore in further targeting of the Assam Rifles. The Manipur State Police has now started removing the Assam Rifles posts from key areas and also started lodging false and fabricated FIR against the Assam Rifles to hinder/pressurize them from doing their duties.

The MLAs, thus, urged the PM’s personal intervention in quick resolution of the ethnic strife at the earliest.