Free hand given to Kuki militants : YFPHR
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 19 2024: Highlighting some prominent cases of attacks on unarmed Meitei civilians by Kuki militants in areas where Central Security Forces are deployed, Youth's Forum for Protection of Human Rights (YFPHR) has demanded the GoI to stop militarization of Manipur and withdraw CAF from the State.

Listing some of the attacks on Meitei civilians which took place in the vicinity of CAF, YFPHR pointed out that on August 5, 2023 three unarmed villagers, including a father and a son, were brutally murdered in cold blood by Kuki militants at Kwakta Lamkhai Ward No 8, Bishnupur district under the nose of the Assam Rifles posted to prevent the violence, as per a statement issued by YFPHR secretary T Shadishkanta.

Similarly, on September 8, 2023, a 15-year-old girl was injured when Kuki militants fired indiscriminately at a village in Koutruk.

The militants reportedly launched the attack from three sides atop Koutruk hill where BSF were mostly deployed, said the statement.

In another case, Khwairakpam Ningol Leichonbam Ongbi Ibemcha was shot by Kuki militants from Kangchup hills where Assam Rifles and CRPF were deployed on the morning of November 7, 2023.She succumbed to her injuries on November 17, 2023 around 1.35 pm at RIMS Hospital.

More recently, on January 10, 2024 four unarmed persons who went to collect firewood were killed at Haotak village under Bishnupur district where the Mahar Regiment is deployed to protect the civilians.

Lastly, YFPHR highlighted yesterday's unfortunate incident wherein four villagers, including a father-son duo, were killed in cold blood at Ningthoukhong Kha Khunou Maning under Bishnupur police station where Sikh Regiment is stationed.

Stating that the highlighted cases are just the tip of the iceberg, YFPHR underscored the case of missing people, shooting at civilians etc which occurred in various places such as Leitanpokpi, Kwakta and Moirang leaving many injured.

In all these places, the CAF, such as Assam Rifles, CRPF, BSF, Jat Regiment, Kumaon Regiment, Sikh Regiment and Mahar Regiment were deployed to curb the violence.

However, despite their presence, the killing of civilians has not stopped till date, asserted YFPHR.

Thus, the Forum has accused the CAF of being in nexus with the Kuki militants under the guidance of the Government of India to continue the violence in Manipur for their "economic interest" .

In view of these circumstances, YFPHR has appealed to the Government of India to respect the indigenous peoples right to life and self determination, stop the killing of civilians immediately, punish the killers, withdraw the CAF from Manipur and stop militarization.

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