ITLF seals border, Kpi bodies oppose Govt order
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal/New Delhi, December 22 2023: The Manipur government's move to ensure smooth movement on two key highways in the state faces resistance from civil society groups of the Kuki tribes.

Chief Secretary Vineet Joshi in a public notice on Thursday had announced the opening of the two highways "for use by all" .

For this, more security forces would be posted along the two highways, the state government had said.

The Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF), however, has decided to seal the entire Churachandpur district, which would block the state government from posting more forces and open the routes, citing concerns over possible disruption during the Christmas season.

"ITLF would like to inform the general public that all the borders within Churachandpur district and Bishnupur will be sealed for security reasons," it said in a statement.

It said it has got "intelligence inputs about an imminent threat" to disrupt the Christmas season.

ITLF spokesperson Ginza Vualzong told NDTV the statement is genuine.

"From December 23 till January 5, all non-tribals within the district are not allowed to move out of the district and those non-tribal from outside are not permitted to move inside the district," the ITLF said.

Local reports said another Kuki group in Kangpokpi district, on the opposite side of Churachandpur with Imphal valley in the middle, has called a lockdown of the district.

Violence began in Churachandpur and nearby areas on May 3 following a protest by the hill-majority Kuki tribes against the valley-majority Meeteis' demand for the affirmative action on Scheduled Tribes (ST) status.

Over 180 have died and hundreds left internally displaced.

The Kuki tribes have alleged the Manipur Police of bias in how the force operated amid the violence.

The Manipur government's attempt to send police personnel in the hill districts where the Kuki tribes are settled have also faced strong resistance, especially in the border town Moreh near Myanmar, Churachandpur, and Kangpokpi.

The ITLF's move to stop the government from opening the highways and posting more security forces is likely to add to tensions on the ground just days before Christmas.

Manipur has already seen a "dark Diwali" and the gloomiest Ningol Chakkouba, which the Meetei community celebrates after Diwali, and is similar to Bhai Dooj except that in Manipur it is the brothers who welcome their sisters from their matrimonial homes for a grand feast.

A senior police officer who is posted in Bishnupur district, told NDTV the ITLF statement is outright illegal.

"No group can stop people from going or leaving any district unless enforced by the law.

We will look into this," the officer said, requesting anonymity.

"There are many common people who want to see normalcy, who have been threatened into silence and prevented by groups from restarting commercial activity during festivals," the senior police officer told NDTV on phone today.

The Committee on Tribal Unity Sadar Hills (CoTU) and Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills (KISH) opposed government's decision to deploy additional security forces for the convenience and security of people taking the highways.

The condemnation from CoTU and KISH came in the wake of the December 21 notice of the state home department for deployment of additional forces along Imphal-Kangpokpi-Mao road and Imphal-Bishnupur-Churachandpur road for the convenience and security of the people using the highways.

However, both CoTU and KISH alleged that the decision of the government was not only partisan but also favours only one of the two warring communities.

The Kuki-Zo bodies also said that the notice is a ploy to portray normalisation in a violence-hit state so that the invidious affairs of the state is concealed.

While appealing to the government to withdraw the order, both CoTU and KISH warned that any untoward incidents arising out of the public notice will be the sole responsibility of the government.

They also cautioned the Meetei civilians to tread with care when tensions are high and not to be misled by the sugar-coated policies of the government.

The state government had given orders to ensure safe and smooth movement, on the two highways that connect state capital Imphal with Mao, 110 km to the north near the border with Nagaland, and Imphal with Churachandpur to the south, 65 km apart.

Starting Saturday, vehicles would be allowed to travel either way on both the highways from 9 am, the government order said, adding the extra security forces would be led by Indian Police Service (IPS) officers Nishit Kumar Ujjwal and K Kabib.

Ujjwal would oversee the security arrangements on the Imphal- Mao stretch, while Kabib would protect the Imphal-Churachandpur segment, the Chief Secretary said in the order.

The state government has not yet given a statement on the ITLF's threat of shutting down Churachandpur district.

Calls to the Manipur Home Department were not answered.

(With inputs from NDTV) .

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