Manipur’s Indigenous Tribal Leaders
Forum or ITLF, civil society groups of the Kuki, are showing resistance to the
State Government’s order regarding the smooth functioning of two significant
highways. Subsequently, the forum has planned to seal the entire Churachandpur
district which is ‘illegal’ according to police.
The forum’s action, over possible
disruption during the Christmas season, will block the Manipur Government from deploying
additional forces and opening the routes.
Two days back, Manipur Chief Secretary
Vineet Joshi had announced the opening of the two highways “for use by all” in
a public notice.
The forum, through a press release,
announced “that all the borders within Churachandpur district and Bishnupur
will be sealed for security reasons”, adding, it has received “intelligence
inputs about an imminent threat” to interrupt the Christmas season.
As per the forum’s statement, “all
non-tribals” within and outside the district were barred from moving in and out
between “December 23 and January 5”.
Another Kuki group residing in Kangpokpi
district, on the opposite part of Churachandpur with Imphal valley in the
middle, has declared a lockdown of the district, said local reports.
“No group can prevent people from going
or leaving any district unless enforced by the law,” stated a top police
officer from Bishnupur district on condition of anonymity. He added that the
ITLF statement “is outright illegal”.
The top official shared interest of “many
common people, who want to experience normalcy, who have been frightened into
silence and stopped by groups from restarting commercial activity during
festivals”.
The two highways in focus connect Manipur
capital Imphal with Mao, 110 km to the north close to the border with Nagaland,
and Imphal with Churachandpur to the south, 65 km apart.
Vehicles would be permitted to travel
either way on both the highways from 9 am from Saturday, said the government
order, adding the additional security forces would be led by Indian Police
Service officers Nishit Kumar Ujjwal and K Kabib.
NE Watch Desk
