IT News
New Delhi, Feb 28:
The Delhi Meetei Coordinating Committee (DMCC) has welcomed and appreciated the voluntary surrender of looted arms and ammunition by Arambai Tenggol to the Governor of Manipur. This significant step follows the Governor’s assurance of restoring peace in the state and underscores the Meetei community’s commitment to stability in Manipur.
The DMCC has attributed the ongoing violence in Manipur to ethnocentric politics pursued by Kuki separatist groups, which, they claim, aim to fragment the state’s multiethnic identity. According to the committee, Manipur has the right and responsibility to preserve its multiethnic character, but the divisive, ethnicity-based politics of Kuki militant groups has exacerbated tensions. The DMCC recalled that the current unrest was triggered on May 3, 2023, when Kuki militants allegedly launched coordinated attacks on Meetei villages, houses, and establishments in Kuki-majority districts such as Torbung in Bishnupur district, Churachandpur, Ekou in Kangpokpi district, and Moreh in Tengnoupal district. On the first day of violence alone, over 800 Meetei homes were reportedly burned down, and a Meetei woman was subjected to a brutal gang rape by armed Kuki militants in Churachandpur district.
Despite the large-scale violence against Meeteis on May 3, 2023, the DMCC criticized state security forces—including the Manipur Police, paramilitary forces, and the Indian Army—for their alleged failure to intervene effectively to protect lives and properties. The committee pointed out that Kuki armed groups have long been shielded under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with the Government of India, leading to a security vacuum. In the absence of adequate protection, Meetei youths resorted to looting arms on May 4, 2023, and in the following days, as an extreme measure of self-defense against heavily armed Kuki militants.
With the Governor currently overseeing the state under President’s Rule and assuring protection for Manipur, Arambai Tenggol’s move to surrender weapons marks a significant step towards peace. The DMCC emphasized that the responsibility of ensuring the security of the Meetei community now lies with the Government of India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The committee warned that any future attacks on the Meetei people—whether through isolated gunfire or large-scale violence—would hold the Prime Minister directly accountable.
At this critical juncture, the DMCC has raised concerns and called for clarity from the Governor of Manipur regarding the number of Kuki armed groups that have surrendered their weapons, the actions that will be taken against those who refuse to disarm, and whether the extension of time is merely a tactic to delay action against Kuki armed groups that continue to defy the Governor’s call for peace. The DMCC has urged the Government of India to take decisive action to ensure lasting peace in Manipur.
