ZCSC petitions President for verification of CDOs
Source: Chronicle News Service / Kaimuanthang Mangte
CCpur, September 12 2023:
Zomi Council Steering Committee (ZCSC) submitted a memorandum to the President of India highlighting the current situation in the state and possible solutions for sustaining peace while apprising of their grievances due to the current ethnic clash in the state that broke out on May 3.Informing this in a press release, ZCSC said that thousands of unrecovered looted arms and ammunition, coupled with video evidences of Meetei rebels and surrendered insurgents fighting alongside the Meetei volunteers underscore absence of political will to rein in the aggressor community.
It also mentioned about instances where armed Meetei men impersonating Manipur police personnel and commandos engaged in gun battles with security forces.
Furthermore, it alleged frisking of non-locals at Imphal airport and their detention for hours for questioning about their visit to Zo territories and whether they were carrying any goods or medicine meant for internally displaced Zo people.
The memorandum added that, in addition to instances of media twisting facts with the motive to demonise Assam Rifles and central security forces, activities of Meira Paibis and other radicalised women are creating diversions and blocking the central forces without any valid reason.
The memorandum requested the President to conduct physical verification of all Manipur police commandos and police personnel or disband them until the violence subsides, to not remove all central security personnel from their current locations and place them in a buffer zone until the situation improves, and to expedite ongoing political talks with United People's Front (UPF) and Kuki National Organisation (KNO) so that a separate administration can be set up for the Zo people in the form of a union territory with a legislature at the earliest.
Meanwhile, ITLF alleged an attack against Kuki-Zo tribals by Meeteis armed with sophisticated weapons on Tuesday morning around 8:20 at a place between Ireng and Kharam Vaiphei villages.
The attack resulted in the death of three individuals, namely Ngamminlun Lhouvum, Satneo Tuboi, and Ngamminlun Kipgen, a musician and singer.
In a statement ITLF said that involvement of well-trained and armed Meeteis, working hand in glove with Meetei population, has given a new dimension to the ethnic conflict and will be a big obstacle in the road towards peace in the state.
The Kuki-Zo tribals have steadfastly tried to maintain peace after the initial bout of violence in May, but the unending attacks and arson are testing the tribals to the limit.
ITLF vehemently condemns the latest killing of tribal civilians and urges the central government to crack down on valley insurgent groups and re-impose AFSPA in valley areas immediately since the state government and sections of the police force are openly siding with the majority community, the statement added.