The Thadou Students’ Association (TSA ) general headquarters Manipur on Saturday requested the president and general Secretary of the Thadou Students’ Organisation (TSO), Myanmar to urgently investigate and cut off arms supplies to prevent further violence in Manipur.
A letter signed by its secretary general sought the attention of the president and general secretary of TSO, Myanmar, regarding the escalating violence in Manipur.
The letter mentioned that arms and ammunition are being misused to perpetrate atrocities against the Thadou community under the pretext of fighting for ‘Separate Administration.’
The letter also highlighted the three attacks on the residence of TSA president Michael Lamjathang Haokip.
It requested “immediate action to investigate the source of arms supply, if any, to Kuki extremist and militant groups, and to cut off arms supplies to these groups, if any, to prevent further violence and protect the Thadou community.”
The letter urged swift and decisive action to address this critical situation and ensure the safety and security of the Thadou people.
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The same letter was also sent to the presidents and general secretaries of Thadou Inpi, Chandel/Tengnoupal, and TSA Tengnoupal/TSA Chandel.
In a separate release, the TSA vehemently condemned the attack on the residence of its president T Michael Lamjathang Haokip by miscreants at Peniel village, Churachandpur, Manipur on Saturday.
The incident happened around 12.20 pm, barely five days after the second attack occurred on Sunday at 10.45 pm, stated a release. The incidents are purported to have been carried out by suspected armed Kuki militants, it said.
It alleged that the attacks were carried out by the same well-organized groups with Kuki supremacist agenda. It further condemned the negligence of the district law enforcement officials for allegedly failing to prevent Saturday’s attack and failing to take necessary actions against the culprits involved in previous incidents.
It denounced the attempted assassination, arson, vandalism, firing and assaults on Michael’s home, and demanded justice for the heinous act. It stated that a First Information Report (FIR) has been filed in relation to the attacks.
The attack on the innocent family is a crime against humanity, it said, terming it as unacceptable and unjustified in a civilized society. The well-coordinated attacks on Michael and his family are an attack on the Thadou tribe and its ethnic identity, the association said.
Michael also currently serves as the Spokesperson of BJP for Manipur state, it said. Various viral videos have surfaced featuring Kuki militants threatening his life, it noted.
It also mentioned that the first attack on Michael reportedly occurred on May 7, adding that he also escaped an attempted assassination in Churachandpur on April 28 by suspected armed Kuki militants. It further said that the presence of innumerable Kuki armed groups has adversely affected the Thadou community especially in Manipur.
Michael and his family have been subjected to severe threats, intimidation and persecution allegedly from Kuki militants and extremists who function like notorious mafias and gangs in order to defend the interests of his community, it added.
It maintained that the TSA will no longer tolerate human rights violations perpetrated by Kuki supremacists.
Stating that it is a moral obligation of the Centre to ensure protection to him and the community, it expressed hope for a positive response from the Central Government regarding the Memorandum dated August 30 submitted to the Union Home Minister.
