Manipur turmoil continued

 

Kuki villages burned down amid Home Minister Amit Shah's visit on May 30, 2023

Kangpokpi: May 30, 2023
The Kuki-Zo tribal villages in Manipur continued to be attacked and burned down under the nose of the central security forces deployed for protection and surprisingly amid the Home Minister of India, Shri Amit Shah’s arrival and holding peace meeting with both the communities.

While meeting with the leaders of Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum(ITLF) in Churachandpur, he appealed for allowing 15 days peace time to take up various immediate and long term solution to the ongoing conflict. He also requested the Kuki tribals to hand over the arms.

Meanwhile  as many as 10 Kuki-Zo villages under Island sub division kangpokpi district were attacked burnt down. The burned down villages with number of houses, dated and time of attack/burn are given hereunder:

1. Beulahland (about 40 houses) on 29.05.2023 at 4:00 pm
2. S. Bongjang, about 70 houses, on 29.05.2023 at 6:00 pm and again on 30.05.2023 at 11:00 am
3. Saichang (about 70 houses) on 30.05.2023 at 9:00 am
4. L. Songphel (about 20 houses) on 30.05.2023 at 10:00 am
5. Kamusaichang (about 50 houses) on 30.05.2023 at 12:00 am
6. Nongdam kuki (about 60 houses) on 30.05.2023 at 2:00 pm
7. Maphou kuki  (about 100 houses) on 30.05.2023 at 3:00 pm
8. Molnom (about 55 houses) on 30.05.2023 at 12:00 pm
9. Molkon (about 60 houses) on 30.05.2023 at 1:00 pm
10. Chaningpokpi (about 60 houses) on 30.05.2023 at 1:00 pm

The final hope for protection of the Kuki-Zo tribals appear dimmer with time as the presence of Chief of Defense Staff, National Security Advisor and the Home Minister in Manipur does not make any difference. While the state government continue to point fingers at the tribal militants for the ongoing conflict, he is completely silent on the Arambai Tenggol, a Meitei militants who looted guns and ammunitions from the state forces.

The following state police and security forces have been looted without any resistance on 3rd, 4th, 28th & 29th May 2023:
i) 7th MR at Khabeisoi, Imphal
ii) 3rd IRB at Thoubal
iii) 2nd MR at Imphal
iv) Yairipok PS under Thoubal district
v) Nongpok Sekmai PS, under Thoubal district
vi) Manipur Police Training Center (MPTC) at Panggei, Imphal
vii) Tengnoupal PS, Chandel district.

It is surprising to see that the Chief Minister, N Biren Singh has not uttered a word about these loots. One can imagine what could his reaction be had the above lootings have been done by the Kukis. Now, the Arambai Tenggol militants are using the looted guns and ammunitions to attack the defenceless Kuki-Zo villages one after another.

Not only is N. Biren Singh the chief minister of Manipur but he is also the overall chief of Arambai Tenggol militants. Nevertheless, he keeps pointing fingers at the tribal village volunteers standing up in self defence as terrorists.

In addition, N.Biren Singh also has directly ordered the Manipur Police Commandos and IRB(Indian Reserved Battalion) to attack the Kuki villigates settling along the foothills of Manipur. He also approved the use of ML 3-Inch mortar, grenade bomb and Sniper Rifles on 27/28 May 2023 killing the village defence volunteers. While defending their villages, Paohao Khongsai s/o Lunthang khongsai of Saichang village and Nehlenlal Chongloi of Khunkho village were killed by snipers of Manipur police.
(Source: NAgency)