CM notes offensives of Kuki militants at Moreh
Source: The Sangai Express

Moirang, January 07 2024: As Kuki militants have intensified attacks on State security forces at Moreh, "war" has only begun in Moreh, said Chief Minister N Biren Singh.

While there have been violent conflicts between communities, there was no war in Manipur.

War has only begun now in Moreh, said the Chief Minister.

N Biren Singh made the statement while speaking at the launch of the College Fagathansi Mission at Moirang College, yesterday.

N Biren Singh was apparently referring to continued attacks that have targeted State and Central security forces at Moreh, the border town between India and Myanmar.

Since December 30, State police commandos and Central security forces, particularly BSF, have come under heavy attacks from Kuki militants.

CM notes offensives of Kuki militants at Moreh

In what appeared to be well coordinated attacks and ambushes, Kuki militants have rained bullets and fired rocket propelled grenades on the State security forces and CSF (Central security forces) .

At least 13 personnel including 10 Special Commandos and 3 BSF men have been hurt in several attacks carried out in a span of 4 days till January 2 .

The intensified attacks by Kuki militants in Moreh came weeks after Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Chingtham Anand was killed on October 31 .

The police officer was hit by a sniper bullet while he was overseeing preparation of a helipad at the Eastern Shine School Ground in Moreh.

Reportedly, State security forces were attacked by Kuki militants at Moreh late in the evening today.

During the launch of the College Fagathansi Mission, N Biren identified illegal immigrants and the issue of drugs as the cause of the conflict.

The issue of illegal immigrants was known ten years ago, but it was not pursued seriously.

From 2006 to 2018, there had been an increase of around 900 new villages in the hills, he said.

"What we want is peaceful coexistence of all existing communities.

We don't want illegal immigrants to stay.

We only want them [illegal immigrants] to return to their original places," N Biren said.

The Chief Minister continued that what the State had seen since May 3 till recently were conflict between communities and not war.

"War has only begun in Moreh.

What had happened earlier was conflict between communities," he said.

Nobody wants conflict.

It has affected both the communities.

The Government understands the suffering of the displaced people, he added.

When the conflict wasn't clear, people rose and took the responsibility themselves to protect Manipur.

Now let the Government handle and bear the responsibility.

The Government will not allow Manipur to lose an inch of land, he said.

He added that the Indian Government is committed to saving and protecting Manipur's integrity.

Meanwhile, India Today reported that during the same programme, Chief Minister N Biren Singh said it was upto the Centre to decide on the tripartite Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement signed with Kuki militants.

India Today quoted N Biren as stating "The State Government had already withdrawn from the tripartite agreement of the Suspensions of Operations (SoO) with two Kuki militant groups.

However, it is up to the Central Government to take a call" .

In March 2023, the State Government had announced withdrawal from the SoO agreement with the Kuki National Army (KNA) and Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA) .