Gorkhas seek protection from Kuki militants
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, June 06 2023:
Bharatiya Gorkha Sangha, Manipur State Branch and All Manipur Gorkha Ex-Ser-vicemen (Defense & CAN') Association submit-ted a memorandum to BJP president JP Nadda seeking protection of Nepali-speaking Gorkha community in Manipur from the extortion, torture and threat from Kuki militants.
In their memorandum, the Gorkha bod-ies said that they have been coexisting by maintaining a cordial and harmonious re-lationship with all the communities both in the valley and hills.
Majority of the Gorkha minority community belongs to farmers, retired defence personnel, small business groups and marginalised labourers, and their settlements is scattered in various districts of Manipur with the majority concentrated in Kangpokpi and Senapati districts in the hill areas.
A significant number of the population is also settling in Imphal West district, Imphal East district, Kakching district, Tengnoupal district including the border Moreh town.
The present ethnic crisis between two major groups has badly affected the Nepali speaking Gorkha community across the state.
There are 154 Nepali speaking Gorkha villages in Kangpokpi district, which is dominated by Kuki community, where both the Kuki militants under suspension of operation (Soo) and various non-Soo Kuki mil-itants groups are operating.
The present ethnic clash has totally disturbed the peace and tran-quility as the heavy extortion and the demands including forcefully taking away their herds of cattle has become the normal affairs of the day by So0 and non-So0 Kuki militants.
They are even demanding the Gorkha population to purchase sophisticated weapons for the Kuki militants.
Affected Nepali speaking Gorkha minority commu-nity from Kakching district Serou), Tengnoupal district More town), Imphal East Sadu Lampak, Saikul, Pukhao, Ingkhomang, Ekou area) and others adjacent areas fled to safe areas.
The Gorkha com-munity of some vulnerable and sensitive villages like hang part 1, hang part 2, Toribari, Kalap-ahar, Parsain Basti, Suntola-bari, Setikhola, Amala Dara, Tokpa Gopibung, Kolpejang, Charhajare, Kanglatongbi, Lei-makhong, Saikul and Pukhao need immediate permanent security posts in the wake of the violence and threat they are receiving, the memorandum said.
It further added that they are ready to provide land for stationing the security battal-ion at the Parsain, Suntolabari GP in Kangpokpi district for the safety and security of their life, liberty and property.
The two bodies then drew attention of the BJP nation-al president to safeguard the community by providing se-cured and safe environment with necessary security de-ployment.
They also raised demand for strict adherence to So0 ground rules by the Kuki militants under So0 agreement, flush out non-SoO groups and disarm the civilians.