Cabinet for blacklisting WKZIC under UAPA
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, October 31 2023:
In the backdrop of killing a police officer at Moreh town on Tuesday morning, a meeting of the state cabinet adopted a recommendation to declare the World Kuki-Zo Intellectual Council (WKZIC) as an unlawful organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
This move has come following the WKZIC's alarming call to a specific community, urging preparation for an upcoming war and the subsequent killing of the police officer.
The emergency cabinet meeting held at the CM's secretariat addressed the escalating law and order situation in the state, prompted by the demise of Moreh SDPO Chingtham Anand Kumar.
The cabinet acknowledged the recent peaceful period where both sides in the conflict had shown restraint for the past one-and-a-half to two months.
It strongly condemned the unprovoked firing by armed Kuki militants that resulted in the death of Anand while he was overseeing the cleaning of the ground of Eastern Shine School for construction of a helipad to be jointly executed by the state forces and BSE.
The cabinet approved an ex-gratia of Rs 50 lakh for the late police officer recognizing his special duty in a unique area.
The cabinet also committed to providing suitable government job to the deceased martyr's next-of-kin.
It further directed a joint operation in Moreh and its vicinity to apprehend the culprits responsible for this crime and to persist until the culprits are arrested.
Additional state forces have been dispatched from Imphal for this purpose.
Tuesday's cabinet also resolved to ensure free movement of transportation and general public along the Pallel-Moreh road on NH-102 by both central and state forces, and to implement strict measures to prohibit illegal armed persons from entering or residing in and around Moreh due to its strategic significance under India's Act East Policy.
The cabinet noted that the WKZIC had issued a press release earlier, giving clarion call to the Kuki-Zo community for preparation before the upcoming harvest season, hinting at the possibility of launching a fresh war.
The organisation revealed plans for the involvement of youth volunteers and national army/UG groups under specific circumstances, emphasising the need for ample arms and ammunition.
Noting that an FIR had already been filed against the organisation m connection with these statements, the cabinet, in light of the tragic incident leading to the death of a senior police officer, adopted a recommendation for declaration of WKZIC as an unlawful association/organisation under Section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 .