Manipur Violence: Representatives of the Meitei group met Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday night to press for the removal of Assam Rifles from casteist violence-hit Manipur. In a statement around midnight, a group of prominent Meitei groups said the Delhi Meitei Coordination Committee (DMCC) met Rajnath Singh at his residence and demanded another security force in place of the Assam Rifles. Manipur Coordination Committee on Integrity (COCOMI) has demanded the removal of Assam Rifles saying that the force is partisan. Meitei women’s groups have held several demonstrations against the force.
At least 175 people died in the violence!
COCOMI representatives have met Union Home Minister Amit Shah at least three times since the outbreak of caste violence in May. According to reports, at least 175 people died on the spot in the violence and about 50,000 people had to move out of their homes. COCOMI spokesperson Khuraizam Athauba said the DMCC has submitted a memorandum citing the threat from Kuki militant groups and the alleged bias of the Assam Rifles. Kuki groups have blamed Meitei militant groups for the violence.
‘Assam Rifles partisan’
Athauba said the delegation told Rajnath Singh that Assam Rifles was biased in dealing with Meitei and Kuki protesters. The spokesperson said he raised the issues of narco-terrorism, illegal immigrants as well as suspension of the operating agreement. Kuki groups have accused Manipur Police of bias and urged the central government to retain Assam Rifles to maintain peace in the state. The Assam Rifles reports to the central government and the Manipur Police reports to Chief Minister Biren Singh, who is a Meitei.
Sedition case registered against COCOMI
Last month, Assam Rifles had sent a legal notice to a Manipuri leader for his alleged remarks accusing the force of supporting Kuki militants during the clash with the Meiteis. Manipur Police had filed a First Information Report accusing Assam Rifles of preventing them from pursuing Kuki militants in the buffer zone. Assam Rifles has said that its soldiers are only following the buffer zone guidelines to restore normalcy. This led to a case of treason being filed against COCOMI for allegedly discouraging the return of weapons stolen from police armouries.
Meiteis live in the Imphal valley and plains.
The Kukis and other tribal groups inhabit the hill districts, while the Meiteis live in the Imphal Valley and plains. Central forces are deployed in the buffer zone or areas adjacent to the foothills to ensure that armed men from both the Kuki and Meitei sides do not cross them to launch attacks. Central forces have been instructed against allowing crossing the buffer zone without accompanying the state police. This directive was issued in the backdrop of allegations of bias against the state police.