15 hurt as Kuki women protest deployment of security forces
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, December 31 2024: More than 15 people, mostly women, were injured during a clash with security forces at Uyokching, which is located in the inter-district boundary between Kangpokpi and Imphal East, on Tuesday when they were protesting against deployment of security forces.

According to police sources, two women suffered serious injuries in the clash with the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).

A Manipur Police statement said that a large number of womenfolk attempted to disrupt the deployment of the Army, BSF and CRPF at Uyokching, near Thamnapokpi village.

"The combined security forces dispersed the crowd with minimum use of force and now the situation is peaceful and under control.

The combined security forces were deployed at the hilltop to dominate the area and prevent any untoward incident in the area," the statement said.

15 hurt as Kuki women protest deployment of security forces

Several tribal organisations, including the Women Wing of the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF), Kuki Inpi Manipur, Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights, Kuki-Zo Women's Forum (Delhi & NCR) said that more than 30 women were injured in the clash with the security forces.

All these organisations strongly condemned the incident.

Security forces allegedly used tear gas and physical force against Kuki-Zo women protesters, leaving multiple people injured and sparking outrage across the region.

The confrontation erupted when womenfolk gathered to protest what they described as the 'forceful occupation' of community bunkers by security personnel.

According to witnesses, the situation escalated when forces deployed tear gas against the unarmed demonstrators.

"It was like a battlefield," said one protester who requested anonymity.

"We came to voice our concerns, not to face war tactics".

The injured protesters required medical attention, with some travelling two hours to reach the nearest hospital while others received first aid in nearby villages.

"This is not law enforcement; it's sheer oppression," a local leader said angrily, denouncing the actions of the security forces.

"To use such brute force against innocent, unarmed women is a gross violation of human rights.

These are not mere allegations but evidence of systemic abuse".

Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights (KWOHR) contended that the violence was perpetrated by the central forces against peaceful protesters, primarily Kuki women, who had gathered to voice their concerns over escalating violence and insecurity in the region.

The women wing of the ITLF, meanwhile, alleged that a brutal attack by the security forces on Tuesday on the protest resulted in serious injuries to more than 30 women, including a severe head injury, and is a gross violation of human rights and an affront to the dignity of the Kuki-Zo community.

The organisation said that Tuesday's incident is particularly disturbing as it occurs during the Christmas-New Year period, a time when people come together to celebrate peace, love, and joy.

"Instead, the CAPF's actions have brought fear, trauma, and suffering to the community.

Since it wounded the sentiments of the Kuki-Zo community, the Saibul-Twichin incident would be closely monitored by the Kuki-Zo community worldwide.

We demand that the CAPF immediately cease their intrusive operations and allow the people to celebrate the New Year in peace," the ITLF said.

Urging the government to stop attacks on the Kuki-Zo communities, the women wing of the ITLF said that appropriate steps must be taken to prevent such incidents in the future and ensure that those responsible for the violence are held accountable.

"In order to keep the state peaceful, we implore the government to put an end to the Meitei community's attacks on Kuki-Zo villages.

The ITLF Women Wing stands in solidarity with the Kuki-Zo women at Saibul-Twichin area and demands justice for the victims who were assaulted by the CAPF," the statement said.

On the other-hand, Kuki-Zo Women s Forum, Delhi & NCR described crackdown by the security forces as part of a wider pattern of systemic violence against the Kuki-Zo community.

It stressed that the Kuki-Zo people, particularly women, had shown immense courage in the face of ongoing violence, yet their right to protect themselves and their communities was being denied.

The Forum also called for the intervention of Indian and international human rights bodies to hold the perpetrators accountable.

(With inputs from IANS) .