ITLF demands PR
Source: The Sangai Express

Kangpokpi, May 29 2023: The Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) has demanded the Central Government for immediate imposition of President's Rule in Manipur and the sacking of the Chief Minister N Biren Singh led Government.

In a statement it released, the ITLF claimed that "the Manipur State Government along with the Manipur State forces have been carrying out ethnic cleansing continuously against tribal villages since May 3, wherein tribal villages were burnt down to ashes and many innocents murdered" .

Here, TSE, for clarity and to avoid any ambiguity, clarifies that the present conflict in Manipur is between the Meiteis and the Kukis.

Other Tribal communities are not part of the conflict.

These lines are inserted to avoid any confu- sion among other tribal communities in Manipur and help reduce the present tension.

It also asserted that "the valley underground cadres disguised in Manipur police uniforms were the perpetrators leading the endless horrific crime" .

ITLF also stated that while the SoO groups are in their designated camps, a handful of single barrels and the licensed guns used by the poor tribal villagers to defend their villages have been collected from them by the Army, thereby leaving them defenceless against the State-led machinery.

It stated that the security forces at present have even started combing operations in tribal villages after "allowing looting of arms from 7 MR, 8 IRB, 3 IRB, Manipur Police Training College, and 9 MR" .

The ITLF also pointed out that the injuries suffered by the village volunteer indicate the use of these sophisticated weapons looted by the "radical" groups.

Condemning the actions of Manipur State Government forces, it strongly appealed to the Central Government to deploy more security forces in Kuki Zo inhabited villages to protect innocent villagers whose lives are in danger.

Meanwhile, in a separate release, The Zomi Students Federation (ZSF) and Kuki Students Organisation (KSO) stated that the recent alleged ethnic cleansing of the Kuki-Zo group perpetrated by the State sponsored Meitei "radicals" has reached a point of great destruction wherein the Kuki-Zo are rendered helpless with their country made weapons to protect themselves from Police Commandos, IRBs and all State-sponsored forces who are allegedly actively engaged in shielding the "radical groups" who have come there to attack innocent civilians with their sophisticated weapons.

The two student bodies claimed that video footage and collected evidence show Valley Based Insurgents (VBIGs) posing as police commandos and IRBs, used State police vehicles, uniforms, and weapons and then allegedly entered tribal villages, wherein they "burned houses and killed village volunteers" .

They also alleged that the paramilitary forces conducted sweep operations in which they abducted innocent villagers and blatantly "shot" them.

The alleged commandos resorted to using 2-inch mortar bombs, rocket launchers, and penetrating munitions in their attacks on tribal villages.

The use of sophisticated weapons such as AK-47, snipers, etc is demonstrated by the State government and VBIGs in their attacks on the villages, the two student bodies further alleged.

It went on to state that many village volunteers were allegedly shot dead by VBIGs personnel disguised as State police commandos.

Despite several appeals by the Chief Minister N Biren Singh to restore peace, "radical" Meitei groups such as the Arambai Tenggol (Note Arambai Tenggol is now a disbanded body), the Meetei Leepun, and other groups have been released in cooperation with State forces, VBIGs and they have continued attacks on tribal villages, it added.

It further stated that in some parts of the territory, the "dubious" actions of the Central forces that were supposed to maintain law and order are highly questionable.

The licensed guns of the village volunteers were confiscated, and no fewer than 19 village volunteers in the Sugnu area were arrested by the 37 Assam Rifles.

The Central forces should stop acting in a partisan manner and unconditionally release the arrested volunteers with immediate effect, it stated.

The ZSF and KSO while strongly condemning the ongoing alleged attacks on the innocent Kuki-Zo civilians by the State armed forces along with the "radical" Meitei groups supported by Manipur's Chief Minister N Biren Singh and Rajya Sabha MP Maharaja Leishemba Sanajaoba and VBIGs, ZSF and KSO appealed to the Ministry of Home Affairs to take action against the perpetrators and charge them under the law of the land.

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