Manipur: Calls To Ban Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum Over Alleged Involvement In Plan To Attack Non-Tribal Villages

Amid the gradual improvement in the law and order situation in Manipur, people in the state are now demanding the outlawing of the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) due to the involvement of the leaders of the group in a plan to attack non-tribal villages.

According to a report by The Hindu, media reports suggest that the Kuki militants used drones for planning their attacks on Meitei villages.

One of those drones was used to plan the attack on two Meitei villages - Phoubakchao and Kom Keirak - in state's Bishnupur district.

H Balaram, the police superintendent of the district, expressed happiness after two suspected Kuki militants were rescued and handed over by some Meitei villagers.

However, no weapon was recovered from these alleged Kuki militants.

The SP urged the people to hand over all suspects in case of future incidents, instead of taking law into their hands.

The police official added that the suspects shouldn't be harmed in any manner.

Manipur has witnessed over 100 casualties while many others have suffered injuries due to the communal clashes in the state.

Nearly 60,000 people have taken shelter in 350 relief camps.

With gradual improvement in the law and order situation, curfew in Imphal west, Imphal east and Thoubal districts has been relaxed from 5 am to 8 pm on Monday. However, there is no relaxation in three places in the Kakching district.

There have been several sit-in protests, human chains and processions in Manipur.

The protesters are demanding the Manipur government’s withdrawal from the Suspension of Operations agreement, stating that the Kuki militants are violating ground rules by attacking and killing innocent non-tribal villagers.

The protesters are also demanding the removal of Assam Rifles personnel.

Thousands of villagers had fled their villages leaving behind everything except for the clothes on their back due to the violence.