CoTU Alleges Non-Tribal Mainland Indians Repeatedly Assaulted Amid Manipur Economic Blockade, Seeks Immediate Central Intervention

The Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), Sadar Hills Kangpokpi strongly condemned what it termed the "continued physical atrocities, harassment and intimidation" allegedly inflicted on non-tribal residents living in Kuki-dominated hill areas by Naga groups during the ongoing inter-district economic blockade.

CoTU alleged that non-tribal residents from mainland India residing in Kuki areas, particularly Sadar Hills Kangpokpi district, have become victims of repeated assaults, harassment and extortion during the blockade, which, it claimed, has disrupted the supply of essential commodities to Kuki-Zo-inhabited areas for the past several months.

The committee cited a recently circulated viral video purportedly showing a non-tribal man from mainland India, currently residing in Kangpokpi, being brutally assaulted by a group of persons allegedly enforcing the blockade at Namduilong. It claimed the incident was one of several instances of what it described as "unprovoked harassment and financial extortion" carried out in the name of enforcing the blockade.

The committee further alleged that the blockade had gone beyond its stated objective of seeking justice and had instead become a campaign targeting innocent civilians, including migrant workers, traders and other non-tribal residents from mainland India living in Kuki-dominated areas.

Questioning what it described as the "higher moral ground" claimed by the organisations spearheading the blockade, CoTU alleged that repeated attacks on Kuki-Zo villages, destruction of property and assaults on civilians had exposed what it called the "true nature" of the agitation.

The committee further alleged that although the authorities acted swiftly by arresting suspects in connection with the killing of six persons, the blockade continued despite such action, indicating that the agitation was no longer about seeking justice. Instead, CoTU claimed that the blockade was being used as a political strategy to divert attention from the killing of three church leaders on May 13 and other violent incidents allegedly involving cadres of the NSCN (IM) and the ZUF (Kamson faction).

While expressing sympathy with the families of the six persons killed, CoTU asserted that the Kuki-Zo community had also suffered heavily, alleging that three church leaders and 15 other members of the community had been killed within a span of one month. It further alleged that several Kuki-Zo villages in Noney, Tamenglong, Ukhrul and Kamjong districts had been desecrated or destroyed in attacks allegedly carried out by cadres of the NSCN (IM) and the ZUF (Kamson faction).

The committee urged the Government of India and the Manipur government to immediately review what it termed a "prescriptive policy of appeasement" towards what it called "Kacha Naga groups" by overlooking their "undemocratic inter-district economic blockade" targeting Kuki-Zo habitations. It alleged that the prolonged blockade had not only affected the Kuki-Zo community but had also severely impacted Gorkhas, Biharis and other non-tribal residents from mainland India living in the hill districts.

"The unchecked and limitless territorial capabilities of the Muivah-led NSCN under the Ceasefire Agreement with the Government of India need to be reviewed before the entire North Eastern region is destabilised and to prevent the region from descending into balkanisation beyond redemption," CoTU said.

The committee appealed to the Centre to restore the free movement of essential supplies, ensure the safety of all civilians irrespective of their community, and take firm action against those allegedly involved in assaults, intimidation and extortion. It asserted that no democratic society could permit innocent civilians to be subjected to violence under the guise of a political agitation.