The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) from Manipur has reached out to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, voicing grave concerns over alleged incidents of violence against Kuki-Zo village volunteers by central security forces amidst ongoing ethnic conflicts.
In a letter addressed to Shah, the forum strongly condemned reported incidents in Jiribam’s Phaitol and Mongbung villages, accusing security forces of assaulting seven Kuki women and detaining two village youths.
They also decried the arrest of three Kuki-Zo volunteers in connection with an arson attack, alongside allegations of arson targeting residences of community leaders, exacerbating local tensions.
According to the ITLF, five Kuki women required hospitalization due to physical assaults, further alleging that the residence of the Kuki Inpi (Jiribam, Noney, and Tamenglong) general secretary was set on fire by security forces.
The forum's allegations follow recent security operations at Phaitol and L Hengjol villages in Kangpokpi district, resulting in the arrest of three militants and the seizure of firearms and ammunition.
In their letter, the ITLF challenged Chief Minister Biren Singh's assertions of peace talks, claiming that tribal leaders have not been involved in any such discussions and criticizing the CM for allegedly misrepresenting the situation.
"The CM should refrain from spreading misinformation to garner public support. Any individuals participating in meetings do so in a personal capacity," the letter asserted.
The situation in Manipur remains tense as ethnic tensions continue to simmer, prompting appeals for central intervention to address the escalating violence and restore peace in the region.
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