Churachandpur: The Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) has expressed significant concerns regarding the Government of Manipur’s recent acquisition of 7.62 mm MMG MK 2A1 weapons from the Ordnance Factory Jabalpur. According to reports, these advanced artillery pieces are currently stationed at the Manipur Police Training College in Pangei, where personnel from the 57th Mountain Division are training Manipur Police officers on their use.
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The 7.62 mm MMG MK 2A1 is a high-intensity wartime weapon, typically used in conflicts between nations. Its deployment within the context of a domestic ethnic conflict is seen as disproportionate and potentially incendiary. KIM has warned that the introduction of such sophisticated weaponry could exacerbate the already tense situation in the region.
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The Kuki-Zo community, which has faced escalating violence since May 3, 2023, is particularly alarmed by this development. KIM notes that the state government has previously acquired various military assets, including bulletproof and mine-protected vehicles, which have been utilized against the Kuki-Zo community.
The Kuki Inpi further calls on the Government of India to urgently review and reconsider the deployment of such advanced weaponry in the ongoing internal conflict. The move has provoked widespread public anxiety and raised serious questions about the state government’s intentions in the conflict.
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