ITLF delays Mass Burial for 5 days; 5 demands laid out, including total separation from Manipur

Churachandpur: The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) on Thursday submitted a letter to the Union Home Minister Amit Shah for consideration of demands for the Kuki-Zo tribals of Manipur.

The letter sent through the Headquarter 27 Sector Assam Rifle of Lamka (Churachandpur) laid out 5 key demands that included total separation from Manipur state.

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ITLF in the letter said it had a long deliberation on the request of the Home Minister to delay the burial for another 5 days with various stake- holders. We have agreed to consider the request of the Ministry of Home Affairs for waiting another 5 days for the burial, provided the following demands are met:

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1. Legalisation of the burial site in S. Boljang of Churachandpur, Manipur (Dag No. 2022, 2025, 2161 and 2162 of 98-Torbung Lourup of Churachandpur district).
2. All Meitei state forces should not be deployed in all hill districts for the safety of the Kuki-Zo communities.
3. As the burial will be delayed, the dead bodies of the Kuki-Zo communities that are lying in Imphal should be brought to Lamka (Churachandpur).
4. Our political demand – total separation from Manipur should be speed up.
5. The tribal jail inmates in Imphal should be transfer to other states for their safety.

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It may be noted that point 2. demand All Meitei state forces should not be deployed in all hill districts for the safety of the Kuki-Zo communities, is for the Kuki dominated districts of Manipur especially Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts which have been the epicenter of the conflict in Manipur hills. There are 16 districts in Manipur state.

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