• Manipur: 10 Kuki MLAs write to Amit Shah, demands re-imposition of AFSPA in valley

    North East
    Manipur: 10 Kuki MLAs write to Amit Shah, demands re-imposition of AFSPA in valley
    The letter further stated that the violence in Moreh is believed to be caused by the proven embedding of suspected Meitei militias

    Digital Desk: Ten Manipur MLAs representing the Chin, Kuki, Mizo, Zomi, and Hmar regions formally wrote to Union Minister Amit Shah, urging the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) to be reinstalled in the valley.

    In a letter addressed to the Union Home Minister, the Kuki MLAs said- "on 21-01-2024 the Legislators of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly sans Members from Kuki-Zomi–Hmar Representatives vis-à-vis coercive signature of other non-Meitei MLAs adopted the one-sided misconceived Resolution which moves to abrogate the ongoing political discourse between the Suspension of Operation (SoO) Group and the State and Central Government. This partisan decision is nothing but a sinister ploy to demean and tarnish the image of the SoO groups."

    The letter further stated that the violence in Moreh is believed to be caused by the proven embedding of suspected Meitei militias among the commando units, as well as the ongoing presence and reinforcement of Meitei individuals among the State Commando Forces in the Kuki Zo border town.

    "It is strongly suggested that there will be peace and tranquillity once all Meitei personnel from the State Forces are withdrawn from Moreh and Tribal Police Officers and Personnel deployed as is the case in Churachandpur and Kangpokpi Districts," states the letter.

    In their letter to Amit Shah, the MLAs further demanded that the Indian Army and the Assam Rifles be granted full power to retrieve the weapons taken from the State Police and IRB by reintroducing AFSPA in the Manipur valley, considering that the violence and arms theft continues to this day.