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GUWAHATI: In an open letter to home minister Amit Shah Saturday, Manipur-based Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) called for a separate Union territory with a legislature for Kuki-Zo community.
Expressing concerns about the alleged high-handedness shown by central agencies in dealing with Kuki-Zo “village volunteers” amid the ongoing ethnic conflict, ITLF stressed the need for a UT under Article 239A of the Constitution.
The letter condemned multiple incidents, particularly in Jiribam’s Phaitol and Mongbung, where central forces allegedly assaulted seven Kuki women and arrested three Kuki village volunteers. It was also alleged that security forces set fire to the house of the general secretary of Kuki Inpi (Jiribam, Noney and Tamenglong), escalating tensions.
“Military operations will not bring peace to Manipur. The nature of the conflict – death, destruction, and radicalisation of Meitei community – means Kuki-Zo community will not be able to live a safe and dignified life…,” it said.
Expressing concerns about the alleged high-handedness shown by central agencies in dealing with Kuki-Zo “village volunteers” amid the ongoing ethnic conflict, ITLF stressed the need for a UT under Article 239A of the Constitution.
The letter condemned multiple incidents, particularly in Jiribam’s Phaitol and Mongbung, where central forces allegedly assaulted seven Kuki women and arrested three Kuki village volunteers. It was also alleged that security forces set fire to the house of the general secretary of Kuki Inpi (Jiribam, Noney and Tamenglong), escalating tensions.
“Military operations will not bring peace to Manipur. The nature of the conflict – death, destruction, and radicalisation of Meitei community – means Kuki-Zo community will not be able to live a safe and dignified life…,” it said.
