Village chiefs allege Army complicity in Manipur crisis
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 29 2024: In a memorandum addressed to the union home minister, the defence minister, and the chief minister of Manipur, several village authorities alleged involvement of Indian Army personnel in aiding Kuki militants.

The memorandum claimed that the Indian army has been complicit in the construction of illegal bunkers and has failed to address the escalating violence that threatens the safety of Kom, Kharam, and Meetei communities and called for immediate replacement of biased army personnel with impartial Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to help restore peace and harmony in the region.

Signed by chiefs and representatives of Laikot Kom, Laikot Phaizol, Laikot Kharam, Yaingangpokpi, Thamnapokpi, Sabungkhok Khunou, and Sanasabi villages, the memorandum cited incidents that have escalated tensions in the area, including allegations of the army aiding militants in constructing bunkers and blocking essential services for Meetei villagers.

The memorandum described the precarious situation faced by the Kom and Kharam communities, who reside at the foothills of Sangran Ching.

Historically peaceful and neutral in the ongoing conflict between the Kuki-Zo and Meetei communities, these tribal communities now face a grave threat due to the illegal construction of bunkers by armed Kuki militants on Sangran Ching (hill), a strategically important location within the Khamenlok-Gwaltabi Reserved Forest.

The villagers first noticed the construction on November 25, 2024, and upon verification with binoculars, confirmed the presence of armed militants fortifying their positions.

The memorandum expressed apprehension that these bunkers could serve as launch points for attacks on Meetei settlements, potentially dragging the neutral Kom and Kharam people into the conflict and thus warned against creating enmity between the tribal and Meetei communities, jeopardising their longstanding peaceful coexistence.

Despite assurances from an army team that visited Laikot village on November 26, no steps have been taken to dismantle the bunkers.

Instead, an army officer, identified as "Karan" through Truecaller, called the Laikot village chief, and during the conversation, one person, posing as chief of Chanung village, a Kuki settlement, opposed the removal of the bunkers and asked the Laikot village chief to meet at Simol Army Outpost.

Terming the inaction of the army personnel as disheartening, the memo stated that the same has threatened the lives and properties of the innocent Kom and Kharam communities.

"At the same time, the Army is allowing the construction of new bunkers by Kuki militants and this amounts to threatening the lives and properties of the Kom, Kharam as well as Meetei community residing in the area," the memorandum said while accusing the Army of prolonging the violence instead of dismantling illegal bunkers.

The memorandum highlighted a series of violent incidents that have targeted Meetei villages in the vicinity of Khamenlok-Gwaltabi Reserved Forest.

Armed Kuki militants have been firing from elevated positions, including Thamnapokpi Uyok Ching and Yaingangpokpi Uyok Ching, for the past 18 months.

Villages such as Sanasabi, Thamnapokpi, Yaingangpokpi Shantikhongbal, and Sabungkhok Khunou have borne the brunt of these attacks, severely disrupting the lives of residents.

Despite repeated assaults, the Indian Army has failed to intervene effectively, the memorandum alleged, while accusing the Army of blocking internal roads in Meetei areas with Casspir vehicles, restricting movements of residents and access to essential services such as hospitals.

"One alarming development is the rapid proliferation of bunkers constructed by the militants in the reserved forest area.

Initially, there were only two or three bunkers, but now numerous bunkers have emerged.

This raises serious questions about the role of the Indian Army, as these bunkers have been constructed despite their presence in the area.

The villagers have observed militants moving freely in the hills, constructing and fortifying their positions, while no significant effort is being made to dismantle these structures," the village authorities said in the memorandum.

On November 11, Kuki militants launched a heavy attack on Meetei villages, including bombings from Sangran foothills.

While police and BSF personnel advised residents to evacuate, the Indian Army reportedly blocked NH-202 and other key routes, effectively trapping villagers and enabling militants to continue their assault unchallenged, it further stated.

The memorandum levelled serious allegations against Indian Army personnel, accusing them of aiding Kuki militants in constructing and expanding bunkers in the reserved forest.

Villagers have reported seeing army personnel using machinery such as JCBs to assist in the construction.

Drone footage, enclosed as evidence in the memorandum, purportedly shows direct involvement of army personnel in these activities, they further added.

These allegations have eroded trust in the Indian Army, with villagers accusing them of being biased and failing to act neutrally.

The memorandum asserted that the unchecked proliferation of bunkers has emboldened militants and escalated violence in the region.

The memorandum also detailed attacks on Naga individuals in the Sangran Range.

In the November 11 incident, a Naga villager was shot by Kuki militants, but army personnel denied the militants' involvement, despite BSF personnel confirming the incident.

On November 22, Kuki militants fired at Naga individuals threshing paddy near Urangpat Kuki village and Mayophung Khunou, further endangering civilians in the area.

The memorandum accused the army of failing to dismantle illegal bunkers used by militants to launch these attacks.

Villagers asserted that the militants' activities have gone unchecked, while Meetei villagers face severe restrictions and frequent harassment by security forces.

One of the most alarming incidents highlighted in the memorandum was the kidnapping of a Meetei villager, Laishram Kamalbabu Singh, on November 26, from Leimakhong Army Headquarters.

Kamalbabu, who worked as a supervisor for a construction company operating within the high-security zone, was abducted in the presence of army personnel.

Despite complaints to the authorities, his whereabouts remain unknown, further exacerbating fears among local residents, the memorandum maintained.

The memorandum reiterated the appeal for intervention of authorities to restore peace and ensure the safety of all communities.

It requested for immediate replacement of biased army personnel, particularly those under Brigadier PK Singh, with neutral CAPF units such as the CRPF and BSF, which have been working impartially to de-escalate tensions.

The villagers emphasised the importance of dismantling illegal bunkers, removing restrictions on Meetei villagers, and taking decisive action against militants to prevent further escalation of violence.

They called for security forces to uphold their role as neutral protectors of the people and democratic values.

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