Imphal, July 13: The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) on Saturday sent an open letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah against the rising cases of high-handedness shown towards Kuki-Zo Village volunteers in Manipur by central agencies.

In the letter, they mentioned that it is a matter of serious concern for minority tribes, who are facing the brunt of the violence in the ongoing ethnic conflict.

“Several cases warrant condemnation, especially those that occurred in Jiribam’s Phaitol village and Mongbung village. Seven Kuki women were beaten up by central security forces, and two village boys were taken into custody. Furthermore, three Kuki village volunteers were arrested after an arson attack on the home of L. Hengjol village chief, and five Kuki women beaten up by security forces had to be rushed to Noney Hospital for treatment,” the letter stated.

It further added, “Additionally, security forces set fire to the home of the general secretary of Kuki Inpi (Jiribam, Noney, and Tamenglong). Meanwhile, the majority community, which controls all the state’s resources, is still carrying out its ethnic cleansing campaign against the Kuki-Zos. Even to this day, we are still witnessing the burning of Kuki-Zo houses in Jiribam by Arambai Tenngol militants, while central security forces seem to have been ordered to concentrate on rounding up Kuki-Zo village defenders,”.

“The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is also arresting people on terror charges for simply trying to protect their community. NIA should not be used as a tool for suppression. Genuine cases can be taken up after a political solution is in place. Time and again, we have witnessed Meitei terrorists from UNLF and Arambai Tenggol crossing the so-called buffer zones to attack tribal settlements. This necessitates the deployment of armed village volunteers to protect their homes and families, a fundamental right in every country,” the letter stated.

Pagin Haokip, ITLF chairman said, “The recent instances of security forces arresting tribal volunteers and confiscating their weapons are not only blatantly unfair but also increases the vulnerability of Kuki-Zo villages along the foothills. While combing operations are in full swing in Kuk-Zo areas, Meitei militias with automatic weapons are freely operating in the state capital and surrounding valley. State police and central security forces have become mere spectators as these militants travel freely in vehicles, brandishing guns and openly calling for the genocide of the Kuki-Zo tribes,”.

“Military operations will not bring peace to Manipur. The nature of the conflict – the death, destruction, and radicalisation of the Meitei community – means that the Kuki-Zo community will not be able to live a safe and dignified life in Manipur even if some semblance of peace is enforced by the military. For peace to last, we earnestly request that the Union Home Minister expedite our demand for a political solution: a Union Territory with the legislature for the Kuki-Zo community under Article 239 A of the Indian Constitution,” said Munan Tombig, general secretary of ITLF.

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