The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) has vehemently opposed the potential removal of the Assam Rifles from the buffer zones between the hills inhabited by the Kuki-Zo community and the valley, predominantly occupied by the Meitei community and called for Central intervention in Manipur.
The committee highlighted the crucial role of the Assam Rifles, considered as the only neutral central security forces currently operating in these sensitive areas.
It stated that with decades of counter-insurgency experience, the Assam Rifles have earned the trust of the local populations, emphasising that it is essential to have a neutral force under the command of the Union Home Ministry rather than forces influenced by the state government.
The committee also called for the imposition of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in all 18 police stations in the valley areas.
“This measure is seen as necessary to recover arms and ammunition that were allegedly looted from state armories during the ongoing conflict”, it stated.
The committee warned that any policies from the Government of India favoring one community over another would be seen as shortsighted and potentially disastrous while cautioning that such actions could provoke strong resistance from the marginalised Kuki-Zo community, with the government being held responsible for any ensuing unrest.
CoTU also called for the immediate implementation of Article 365 in Manipur stating that this constitutional provision allows for federal intervention when a state government is deemed to be failing to uphold constitutional governance.
The committee argued that this step is necessary to protect the fundamental rights of minorities and ensure the political survival of the Kuki-Zo tribals in the region.
Meanwhile, the Kuki Students’ Organisation General Headquarters stated that the untimely decision to replace some Assam Rifle units in the hill area with the CRPF could be a wasted and costly decision taken by the concerned department.
It alleged that the COCOMI and its cohorts could not bear to contain this mutual understanding and put up all possible allegations to Assam Rifles, adding that it is lamentable that the concerned agencies act according to their crave and desire.
It further stated that the cognitive intuition of the Government and the concerned department has a valid perspective to appreciate this outcome.
“The decision of replacing the Assam Rifle unit with CRPF is an absurdity and is against the will of the local population”, the student body stated while adding that the Government needs to rethink this decision discreetly and take the opinion of the respective local people and district civil society bodies.
The student body appealed to the Central Government to reconsider and nullify the decision of replacing Assam Rifle with CRPF in public interest.
