Kuki-Zo Council Raises Alarm Over Proposed Security Changes in Manipur
The Kuki-Zo Council issued a strongly worded statement on Wednesday, expressing grave concern regarding recent remarks by Manipur Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam. The minister had suggested replacing central security forces with state forces in the hill regions of Manipur, a proposal that the council views as potentially destabilizing.
Historical Failures of State Forces Cited
In a detailed press release distributed on Thursday, the Kuki-Zo Council meticulously outlined their apprehensions. They referenced the violent outbreak that began on May 3, 2023, as a critical turning point. According to the council, numerous documented incidents have occurred where state security forces were either directly involved in attacks against the Kuki-Zo community or demonstrated a clear failure to prevent such violence from occurring.
The council emphasized a particularly damaging event: the large-scale looting of arms that state forces were unable to stop. These weapons were subsequently used in attacks against Kuki-Zo populations. This specific failure, the council argues, has been a primary factor in "further eroding trust and confidence" in the state's security apparatus among the community.
Central Forces Praised for Stabilizing Role
In stark contrast, the Kuki-Zo Council offered high praise for the role played by central security forces, such as the Assam Rifles and other paramilitary units. The council stated these forces have performed a "crucial and stabilising role" throughout the ongoing tensions in Manipur.
A key element of their success, according to the release, has been their deployment in sensitive buffer zones that separate Kuki-Zo and Meitei areas. The presence of these neutral central forces in these zones has been instrumental in preventing localized clashes from escalating into wider, more devastating conflicts.
Council Issues Stern Warning Against Change
The council's statement concluded with a direct and urgent warning to state authorities. "Any move to withdraw or replace central forces from the hills or buffer zones risks undoing the hard-earned stability and may lead to renewed violence," the release categorically stated.
The Kuki-Zo Council made a formal appeal, urging the Manipur government to refrain from altering the current security arrangements. They stressed that the continued presence of central forces is not merely a logistical preference but is essential for three critical objectives:
- Ensuring absolute neutrality in security operations.
- Restoring confidence among all communities, particularly in the hills.
- Safeguarding the fragile peace for all residents of Manipur.
The council's intervention highlights the deep-seated security anxieties persisting in Manipur and underscores the complex challenges in maintaining law and order in the ethnically diverse state.
