NEW DELHI: In the midst of ongoing ethnic turmoil that has gripped Manipur for six long months, the Indigenous Tribal Liberation Front (ITLF) has accused paramilitary forces belonging to the Assam Rifles and the state police of detaining 12 tribal people they describe as “innocent.”
The incident unfolded in the town of Moreh on Wednesday, adding to the escalating tension in the region.
In a press statement issued by the ITLF, it was alleged that state police commandos had also engaged in the “looting and burning” of tribal homes just a day prior in Sinam village, situated within the Imphal East district en route to Moreh.
“The process of terrorising Kuki-Zo tribals by Meitei police commandos in the border town of Moreh has begun, with 12 innocent villagers including a handicapped man arrested from their homes in an operation today. Commandos also looted and burnt tribal houses yesterday at Sinam village on the way to Moreh,” the statement read.
The ITLF further claimed that the Assam Rifles provided a “free hand” to the commandos during the detainment, which they considered indiscriminate.
Shockingly, the detained people included a handicapped man named Luncha Haokip, while another person, the chairman of Gamnom Veng village, was also detained due to his child carrying toy binoculars. All the detainees were released after 12 hours, according to the statement.
These developments come on the heels of an attack and subsequent killing of Chingtham Anand Kumar, the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), who was allegedly part of the Meitei community.
Reports indicate that the turmoil erupted when armed militants ambushed the Eastern Shine School’s ground, where police officials were engaged in a football match, near the town bordering the Indo-Myanmar border.
Kumar sustained a gunshot wound to his abdomen during the attack, leading to his untimely demise.
Following the SDPO’s tragic death, the ITLF claimed that 20 vehicles carrying commandos were deployed as reinforcement at the scene, and they reported that two houses, four two-wheelers, and two two-wheelers were set on fire during the turmoil. Additionally, the commandos reportedly razed the Wall of Remembrance in the town to the ground while dispersing protesting women at the site.
Currently, a curfew has been imposed throughout the town, heightening tensions and further limiting the freedom of movement for residents.
Earlier in May, Home Minister Amit Shah had promised the Kuki-Zo tribals that all commandos would be removed from the state during his state visit.
However, the recent events in Moreh indicate that the situation remains volatile and far from a resolution, leaving the people of Manipur in a state of uncertainty and fear as they grapple with ongoing unrest.
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