Manipur recorded a fresh wave of unrest after the bodies of six missing individuals were found in the Jiribam district. The Chin-Kuki militant groups are allegedly behind the killing, including three young children aged from 8 months to 8 years. As such, the World Meetei Council (WMC) has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and address the situation.
It also expressed concerns about the reimposition of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) 1958 in five districts dominated by the Meetei community. The Council stated that AFSPA is unnecessary, highlighting that there have been no cases of violence against security forces since the unrest began in May 2023. It urged the central government to deploy the army and paramilitary forces in Manipur and take decisive action against the Chin-Kuki terrorists who are targeting Meetei villages.
Moreover, the WMC demanded the government to officially recognize and designate Chin-Kuki groups as terrorist organizations. Doing so will bring about stronger countermeasures to neutralize their violent activities. The Council also spotlighted the inefficiency of the incumbent Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, calling for a change in leadership to restore normalcy and peace in the turbulent state.
Khuraijam Athouba, spokesperson of the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), said representatives and MLAs of the states should take decisive action to resolve the crisis. It warned that if nothing is done, they would have to bear the brunt of the people’s discontentment. The Meetei civil rights group has given the state and central government a 24-hour ultimatum to crack down on militant groups.
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Rahul Gandhi Concerns About Manipur
Rahul Gandhi, the leader of opposition, also shared concerns about the ongoing unrest in Manipur. He tweeted that the string of violent clashes and continuing bloodshed in Manipur is deeply undisturbing. The Congress leader urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the trouble state and work towards restoring peace and healing in Manipur.
Meanwhile, the Manipur Police has taken cognizant of the situation and used tear gas shells to disperse the mob targeting houses and properties of ministers and MLAs in the state. It deployed the Army and Assam Rifles in Imphal to strengthen the security and conducted flag marches.
