Northeast Desk, 8th September: Protests broke out on September 7 in Motbung Model Village, Kangpokpi, as the Kuki-Zo community, led by the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) Sadar Hills, rallied against the removal of the 9th and 22nd Assam Rifles from Kuki-Zo-dominated areas. The community views the withdrawal of these battalions as an appeasement to Meitei demands and argues that it jeopardizes their safety and security.
The peaceful sit-in protest drew hundreds of demonstrators, primarily women, who raised slogans such as “Don’t Remove Assam Rifles” and “Removing Assam Rifles is Removing Peace.” Their demands also included an investigation into an alleged audio leak involving Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, which the Kuki-Zo claim exposes violence against their community.
Ng. Lun Kipgen, spokesperson for CoTU, linked the recent unrest in regions like Churachandpur, Bishnupur, Kangpokpi, and Imphal West to the removal of the Assam Rifles. He argued that the decision, influenced by Meitei groups like the Coordination Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), leaves Kuki-Zo areas vulnerable to attacks.
The protests, set to escalate if their demands are not met, include calls for mass fasting prayers on Sunday, followed by a large rally on Monday. CoTU insists that the removal of the Assam Rifles should be reversed and has also called for the establishment of buffer zones between Kuki-Zo and Meitei regions. The Committee emphasized that negotiations between the Government of India and Suspension of Operations (SoO) groups are essential to restoring peace.
The Kuki-Zo leadership also renewed calls for Union Territory status under Article 239A, citing the complex governance situation in Manipur, where armed groups and influential bodies have created a parallel system. They warned that failure to act on their demands, including an investigation into the leaked audio tape, could lead to intensified protests and further unrest.
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