UKHRUL: The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) on Tuesday submitted a memorandum to Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen, alleging biased action by security forces against Kuki-Zo civil society leaders following the July 11 incident at Leimakhong.
In the memorandum, CoTU claimed that the arrests and searches carried out by the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) and state security forces amounted to unwarranted harassment of Kuki civil society leaders and their families.
The organisation said the July 11 unrest at Leimakhong was the result of mounting public frustration over what it described as the authorities’ failure to ensure the uninterrupted supply of essential commodities, food items, medicines and basic vaccinations to Kangpokpi district.
CoTU also referred to a protest at Gamgiphai on June 30, alleging that demonstrators had nearly breached the buffer zone manned by central security forces, resulting in casualties. It claimed that no visible action had been taken against those allegedly supporting the blockade.
The memorandum highlighted the arrest of Hengjang village chief K. Lhouvum, a retired Indian Defence Estates Service (IDES) officer, along with Ngamboi Haokip and Pagin Hangshing, both residents of Leimakhong, on July 11.
It further alleged that the residence of Douminlal Haokip, chief of Bongphajol village, was raided around midnight on July 12 by CRPF CoBRA personnel without a search memo or the presence of local police.
CoTU urged the Deputy Chief Minister to ensure the immediate release of the three arrested leaders, stating that their backgrounds and leadership roles did not warrant holding them responsible for the public unrest.
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The organisation also appealed to the state government to prevent further harassment of Kuki civil society leaders and to ensure that any future searches by central security forces are conducted only with proper legal authorisation, including valid search memos and the presence of local police.
