Kangpokpi rally decries plan to remove Assam miles
Source: Chronicle News Service
Kangpokpi, September 09 2024:
Thousands of Kuki-Zo people flooded the streets of Kangpokpi town on Monday as they protested the proposed removal of 9 and 22 Battalions of Assam Rifles from the conflict zones in Kangpokpi and Churachandpur districts.
Organised under the aegis of Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), the protest highlighted the community's apprehension about deteriorating security situation and the need for Assam Rifles to maintain peace.
The mass rally started from Nute Kailhang in downtown Kangpokpi and proceeded towards the Kangpokpi DC's office via National Highway 2.However, the protest was cut short after the DC received a memorandum addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Kangpokpi bazar.
Protestors chanted slogans such as 'Removing Assam Rifles is removing peace', 'Assam Rifles is the only neutral force,' and 'Assam Rifles is the need of the hour' .
After the rally, the protestors gathered at Brig M Thomas ground for a public meeting.
They also mourned the death of four Kuki-Zo volunteers, who were killed in Jiribam on September 7 as well as Nengjakhol Lhungdim, who was killed in a bomb attack at Thangbuh village, and retired army Lalboi Mate, found killed on Monday morning.
The public meet concluded with a five point declaration in response to recent violence and perceived injustices against the Kuki-Zo people.
The five-point declarations are defending ancestral land, equal retribution for attacks, opposition and rejection of the Manipur government's policies and programmes.
The fourth point of the declaration denounced the Manipur government's eight-point demand, which they view as detrimental to the survival of Kuki-Zo community.
They accused the government of appeasing Meetei groups at the expense of Kuki-Zo safety.
The fifth point of the declaration reaffirmed Kuki-Zo community's demand for Complete political and geographical separation from the Meetei community and seeking a Union Territory status with legislature for the community.
This demand, they asserted, is unyielding and non-negotiable.
In the memorandum submitted to Prime Minister Modi through the Kangpokpi DC, Kuki-Zo community opposed the removal of Assam Rifles from conflict zones and requested intervention against the proposed withdrawal of two AR battalions.
The memorandum accused the state government led by chief minister N Biren Singh of complicity in the violence against the Kuki-Zo community.
The memorandum argued that as Assam Rifles is the only force experienced enough in counter-insurgency and guerrilla warfare to contain threats, replacing the AR battalions would expose the community to increased violence.
The memorandum urged the Prime Minister to direct the Ministry of Home Affairs to reconsider the decision and emphasised the urgent need for action to prevent further escalation of violence and ensure the safety of the Kuki-Zo people.
The Kuki-Zo community also announced that they would seal routes leading to all Assam Rifles camps from September 10, to demonstrate their unwavering stance on the issue and commitment to safeguarding their rights and security.
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