ZCSC apprises PM on current situation in state
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, September 08 2023:
Zomi Council Steering Committee (ZCSC) has apprised the current situation in the state to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a memorandum submitted on Friday and alleged that that there has been persistent ethnic cleansing against Zo (Kuki-Zomi-Hmar) tribes.
In the memorandum, ZCSC alleged that Meetei community has increased their aggressive posturing on Zo villages while the entire world is looking on the nation as it hosts the G20 Summit.
It claimed that the attempts to remove security outpost and barricade along the buffer zone in Kangvai area, a zone created to control and minimise armed conflicts was thwarted by the combined efforts of Churachandpur police, Assam Rifles, RAF, Kumaon Regiment, Jammu & Kashmir Light Infantry BSF, CRPF, ITBP and various Zo CSOs.
It went on to claim that on Friday, armed Meetei militants made another attempt to remove security forces along the Asian Highway 1 at Pallel and attacked several Zo villages.
Even with the presence of significant security forces in the area bolstering the confidence of the Zo residents regarding their safety and security, they were caught unaware as they also had made a peace deal with their neighbouring Meetei community.
The role of Meira Paibis in preventing reinforcement of security in the area was visibly shocking, the memorandum said, while adding that time and again, the women's group has always been at the forefront of the repeated armed attacks on Zo settlements.
It then enquired the intention of "Meetei militants and the Meitei groups spearheading the violence when groups within their own community are demanding restoration of normalcy in Manipur" .
It asked why the Meeteis are escalating violence during the G20 Summit and if they have "joined hands with the proscribed insurgent groups in their fight against the Indian nation" .
It also asked why they have adopted "total annihilation policy against the Zo tribes" and how long the Centre will allow the violence to continue.