Manipur: Renewed tension after radical Meitei group issues 6 demands
Manipur is experiencing renewed tension after the radical Meitei group, Aarambai Tenggol issued a set of six demands today after a meeting they called with all 40 MLAs representing the Meitei-dominated Imphal Valley, including Chief Minister N Biren Singh at the historic Kangla Fort in Imphal.
The meeting was reportedly a “summons”, and the chief minister, a Meitei MLA, attended too. Following the meeting, the group’s leader Korounganba Khuman spoke to the public at Imphal’s Ema Market, where he outlined the six demands.
The demands encompass the cessation of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) against militant Kuki-Zo groups, the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the removal of Assam Rifles from Manipur, whom many Meiteis deem as ineffective and not supportive of them, despite being the majority community.
Even after eight months of violence, Manipur remains on the boil. On Sunday, January 21, a group of 35 MLAs (of a total of 60) penned a letter to Home Minister Amit Shah, urging him to take “positive action” to quell the ongoing violence. In the absence of effective measures, they expressed their resolve to explore “appropriate steps” after consulting with the people of Manipur.
The MLAs specifically called for decisive action against Kuki insurgent groups, the annulment of the Suspension of Operation agreement with these groups and the withdrawal of Assam Rifles personnel who were perceived as passive observers during the recent attack on Manipur police and Meitei villagers.
On Monday, the Union Home Ministry rushed a three-member team of officials to assess the situation. The panel is headed by AK Mishra (an interlocutor of the Naga peace talks), Mandeep Singh Tuli (Joint Director, SIB, New Delhi) and Rajesh Kumble (Joint Director, SIB, Imphal).
These developments come after two security personnel were killed and two others got injured in attacks launched by suspected Kuki militants on Wednesday, January 17. The next day, five civilians were killed by unknown miscreants in two separate incidents, both in the hill districts of Bishnupur and Kangpokpi, dominated by Kukis.
The Home Ministry team is meeting with various groups and has met the Aarambai Tenggol, too. This has triggered anger among Kuki-Zo groups who say Aarambai Tenggol has been involved in killing Kukis ever since the violence in the state began last May.
