Delhi Manipuri bodies rebut KIM's allegations
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, September 17 2024:
In a strongly worded joint statement, Delhi Manipuri Society (DeMAS), Meitei Heritage Society, and Ningols United Progressive Initiatives (NUPI) refuted the recent allegations levelled by Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) reacting to their condemnation of former Assam Rifles Director General, Lt Gen (Retd) PC Nair.
The rebuttal came in response to "baseless and malicious" accusations, following their collective condemnation of Lt Gen PC Nair's statements denying drone bombings and rocket attacks on Meetei civilians by armed Kuki terrorists during the ongoing conflict in Manipur.
The three organisations strongly criticised the denial by Lt Gen Nair and Kuki Inpi Manipur, calling it "ir-responsible" and "unfounded" .
They highlighted that the evidence of drone bombings and missile attacks on Meetei civilians by Kuki militants is both overwhelming and universally acknowledged.
They accused the Kuki Inpi Manipur of attempting to deflect attention from these terror acts and playing the victim, despite the mounting evidence pointing to their culpability.
"It is evident that the Kuki Inpi Manipur has been rattled by the overwhelming evidence and global condemnation of the terror acts committed by armed Kuki terrorists through drone bombings targeting Meetei civilians," read the joint statement.
The organisations underscored the need for an objective investigation into the origins of these weapons, emphasising that justice must be served for the heinous attacks on innocent civilians.
In response to Kuki Inpi Manipur's call for the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to act against the Meetei organisations for allegedly "spreading disinformation," the statement dismissed the accusations as diversionary tactics aimed at distracting from the real issue.
The Delhi-based Manipuri groups reiterated their call for an investigation into the use of drone bombs and rockets by Kuki militants, and urged the authorities not to be swayed by such misleading accusations.
"We stand firm in our demand for a thorough investigation into the origins of the drone bombs and missiles used by armed Kuki terrorists.
The perpetrators of these heinous acts must be brought to justice," they stated.
The joint statement also noted the heavy toll the ongoing crisis has taken on both the Meetei and Kuki communities.
According to government data, 121 Kukis and 106 Meeteis have lost their lives in the conflict, while three Kukis and 27 Meeteis remain missing and are presumed dead.
The groups emphasised that both communities have suffered equally during the crisis, refuting any claims of imbalance in the scale of suffering.
The statement went further by referencing public admissions by Kuki leaders regarding their involvement in the violence.
In particular, the president of the Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO), Delhi, Pojakhup Guite admitted on national television to manufacturing rockets and launching attacks on Meetei villages.
Additionally, the organisations pointed to a widely circulated video showing a Kuki militant confessing to launching the missile that killed an elderly man in Moirang.
The groups argued that this evidence stands in stark contrast to the denials issued by Lt Gen PC Nair and a small group of Kuki CSOs, who continue to reject the claims of drone and missile attacks.
The joint statement criticised Lt Gen Nair's comments, describing them as not only misleading but also deeply insensitive to the victims of the attacks.
They expressed disappointment in the former high-ranking military officer for tarnishing the reputation of the Assam Rifles, the force he once led, and reinforcing concerns about the Assam Rifles' alleged partisan role in handling the crisis.
"As a former high-ranking military officer, we looked up to Lt Gen Nair to provide an objective assessment and to conduct himself responsibly, promoting peace and harmony in times of crisis," the statement said.
"Instead, his dangerous allegations, such as the ethnic division within the Manipur Police, have only added fuel to the fire" .
The organisations called on Lt Gen PC Nair to retract his statements and issue a public apology for the harm caused by his remarks.
In conclusion, the Delhi Manipuri groups urged the Kuki Inpi Manipur and other Kuki organisations to focus on fostering peace and reconciliation rather than spreading misinformation.
They called for genuine efforts to bring the two communities together and to work towards ending the suffering caused by the ongoing conflict.
"Dialogue and reconciliation are the only way forward towards the restoration of peace.
We appeal to all CSOs in Manipur to work towards that endeavour to end the suffering of the general public from both communities," the statement concluded.
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