The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF), based in Manipur, has expressed grave concerns to Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the alleged heavy-handed actions of central agencies against Kuki-Zo village volunteers. The forum condemned multiple incidents, including the reported assault on seven Kuki women and detention of two village youths in Jiribam’s Phaitol and Mongbung villages.
The letter highlighted the arrest of three Kuki-Zo volunteers following an arson attack and alleged burning of residences belonging to community leaders, which has escalated local tensions. The forum claimed that five Kuki women were physically assaulted, necessitating hospitalization, and alleged that security forces set fire to the residence of the general secretary of the Kuki Inpi.
These allegations come amidst operations by security forces in Phaitol and L Hengjol villages in Kangpokpi district on July 8 and 9, resulting in the arrest of three militants and seizure of weapons and ammunition. The ITLF challenged Chief Minister Biren Singh’s claims of peace talks, stating that tribal leaders have not been involved in any such discussions. The forum urged the Home Minister to intervene and address the ongoing ethnic conflicts in Manipur.
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