Several Kuki top civil bodies in the Tengnoupal District condemned the alleged "draconian" Manipur state force's rampage in the border town Moreh drawing the attention of the Union Home Minister to remove the Meitei state forces from the border town.
The Kuki Chiefs' Association Tengnoupal District expressed its utter shock over the burning down of several houses, schools, and Churches on January 17 at Moreh allegedly by miscreants disguised in Manipur Police Commando uniform.
It stated that contrary to our appeals to remove Manipur Police Commandos from Moreh, the State Government has militarised Moreh by sending more personnel, and as anticipated, the Manipur Police Commandos wreaked havoc at Moreh and incidents of their atrocities including harassment and killing of innocent civilians are aplenty.
It pointed out that the burning down of houses belonging to the Kuki-Zo community yesterday at Moreh by these Commandos was another glaring evidence that these so-called commandos are untrustworthy and their continued deployment is only deepening the distrust.
The association stated that as a vanguard of the State, the Manipur Commandos are supposed to protect the lives and properties of citizens of the state without any partiality, however, contrary to this, the Manipur Commandos are used as tools to achieve the communal agenda of N Biren Singh and their bias conduct is too well-known by all and sundry.
It also alleged that the Manipur police commando's involvement in burning houses was telling and unbecoming of trained personnel.
It also stated that the Kuki Chiefs' Association Tengnoupal District is equally disturbed to learn that armed radical Meitei militias and surrendered Valley-Based Insurgent Groups are allowed to mix freely with the Manipur Police Commandos.
It went on to allege that by wearing police uniforms, these radical elements are helping the Meitei Commandos in terrorizing the Kuki-Zo people at Moreh.
As things turned out of late, these trained Special Commandos were sent to terrorize the civil populace at Moreh. The State's police chief should review the conduct of his men and do damage control exercises as they become a blot on the entire State Police Force, it added.
"The KCA Tengnoupal District and Kuki-Zo people of Tengnoupal district would never be cowed down by the terror tactic to grab their ancestral land. We are firmly determined to defend our land and rights till the last man standing", it further added.
The Chiefs' Association also demands an immediate release of the alleged unconstitutional arrest of Philip Khaikholal Khongsai, President of Moreh Youth Club, and Hemkholal Mate, the chief of K Moulsang village, who is also the Finance Secretary of the Mate Tribe Union, stating that such unwarranted arrest of innocents will escalate tension in Moreh border town.
The association then appealed to the Government of India to prevail upon the State Government to remove the alleged communal Manipur State force from Moreh so as to ensure peace.
The Kuki Women Organization for Human Rights Tengnoupal Chapter stated that despite repeated petitions and appeals the central Government and the concerned authorities have not taken any real steps to bring peace in Moreh as the atrocities of the communal state police commando upon the innocent women and children continued unabated.
The human rights body recalled that during the recent incident on January 16, when women folks held a democratic protest against the construction of a Police CDO post at Chikim Village, the peaceful women protestors were manhandled, kicked, and dragged by their hair by the state Police Commandos, despite the assured presence of the centre forces.
It stated that one young woman Lhingbem Simte was shot in the knee from the indiscriminate firing by the Police Commandos towards the women and many others were injured trying to save their lives.
It also alleged that on January 17, the state commando recklessly and openly ran over an old woman Vahneilam Mate, 61, using a Casper vehicle causing serious injury, and many other women also sustained bullet injury from the indiscriminate firing.
It further alleged that the police commandos also opened fire on the civilian population at Phaicham Veng and Canan Veng and burned down several civilian houses including Churches and schools.
Vehemently condemning the alleged atrocities of the Meitei state forces, the Kuki Women Organization for Human Rights urged the central Government and the concerned authorities to prevent such inhuman atrocities and violations of human rights as it totally disregards the safety, rights, and dignity of innocent women and children.
It stated that we will not stand idle to watch our women's and children's lives being threatened.
Meanwhile, the Hill Tribal Council, Moreh stated that appraisal and appeals have been made repeatedly to the central Government through concerned officials ranging up to the Union Home Minister on the detrimental intention of the Manipur Government in its deployment of State Commandos in Moreh border town seeking its removal.
It also pointed out that the appeals were not without reason but with sufficient evidence exposing excesses such as extortion and arson to killings committed by the brute communal force which disturbs peace and normalcy.
"Repeated negligence of the appeals by the concerned authority has now led to chaos in the once-thriving border town of Moreh", it stated.
Recalling the various incidents, the Hill Tribal Council stated that on December 30, 2023, at Lhangkichoi locality in Moreh, State commandos burnt down four civilian houses and went on a rampage, and fired indiscriminately, assaulting civilians severely including a private school teacher.
On January 2, 2024, at Chavangphai Moreh, they thrashed two locals leaving them unconscious probably to die while all these victims were still recuperating in a hospital outside Moreh.
On January 16, 2024, the state police commandos manhandled and indiscriminately fired upon the womenfolks who were in a democratic protest against the construction of a commando outpost at Chikim village in which one of the protesting women was shot while several others got injured.
Subsequently, the Manipur police commandos waylaid and abducted two innocent civil society organisation leaders which created heightened tension and unrest in the border town leading to the violent situation.
The next day on January 17, 2024, the state commandos driving recklessly ran over a woman causing severe injury and later burnt down three school buildings, and fourteen civilian houses at Canan Veng and Phaicham Veng in Moreh.
While committing all these crimes they were in full combat dress and equipment, it stated.
It wondered as to how one justifies the burning down of civilian houses including school buildings by Men in Uniform.
It maintained that the evil mindset and intention of the Manipur Government led by its communal Chief Minister, perpetrating arson through its so-called state force on innocent civilians is being confirmed and exposed beyond any doubt.
While strongly condemning the alleged unlawful activities committed by the state government, the Hill Tribal Council prays for the direct intervention of the Union Government of India.
It stated that restoration of normalcy would now depend only on the complete removal of Manipur State Police Commandos from Moreh.
Seeking the attention of the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, the Hill Tribal Council stated that going by your word, isn't the situation in the Hills to be taken care of under You?
"Why have you still allowed the draconian Manipur State Forces to go on a rampage in Moreh Border Hill Town!?. Why not direct the CM to stop radical elements and surrender militants roaming freely around Imphal Valley with looted sophisticated arms from the state armory? it asked.
The Hills Journal
K. Salbung, Churachandpur
Manipur-795128
