The World Meetei Council (WMC) on Thursday wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah highlighting the urgent need for peace in Manipur.
The letter, signed by WMC chairman Heigrujam Nabashyam, stressed the need for immediate and decisive intervention from the central government to restore peace in the state. It stated that since September 1, the Chin-Kuki perpetrators have escalated violence by using sophisticated drones and rockets to attack Meetei villages.
It listed necessary actions to thwart the violent attacks including abrogation of the Tripartite SoO Agreement. It stated that the SoO arrangement allegedly empowers Chin-Kuki militants, most of whom are illegal migrants, further escalating violence and urge the government to revoke the agreement to stop their violent activities.
It called for concrete action against perpetrators, emphasising immediate priority to halt the attacks on Meetei villages by Chin-Kuki groups. It noted that reports indicate that these groups are allegedly under the influence of the Army and Assam Rifles.
It maintained that strong directives are needed from the highest levels of government, including intervention by the Prime Minister to bring their actions under control.
WMC also urged for restoration of normalcy and asserted that Peace will only return to Manipur when the Chin-Kuki militants are stopped from further violence. The Army and Assam Rifles must be directed to act decisively in this regard, it added.
WMC has considered the recent statements by the Centre regarding the situation in Manipur, particularly the emphasis on border fencing and the suspension of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) to curb illegal migration, it noted. It said that while these measures may help reduce infiltration from across the border, they do not address the root causes of the ongoing conflict.
It reiterated its appeal to take swift and concrete measures to address these critical issues, adding that intervention by the Centre is crucial to restoring peace and normalcy in Manipur. WMC further extended heartfelt congratulations to the NDA government on completing 100 days in office and also wished Prime Minister Narendra Modi continued good health and prosperity on his 74th birthday.
