Tribal groups in Manipur slams MHA, to block highway for release of Kuki-Zomi persons arrested by CBI, NIA

The Committee on Tribal Unity alleged partisan attitude by the MHA to support the false narrative by the Meiteis.

Tribal organisations in Manipur on Monday roared in anger against the arrest of at least five Kuki-Zomi persons by the CBI and the NIA since Saturday and announced an "emergency shutdown" on the NH-37 to press for their immediate release.

The Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU), Kangpokpi, a Kuki-dominated district, on Monday also served an ultimatum of 48-hours to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to direct the two central investigating agencies for immediate release of all Kuki-Zo arrested persons. It also demanded initiation of investigation against Meitei "criminals" and convict them for "natural justice."

"The arrest of the five Kuki-Zo persons is a clear indication of partisan attitude by the MHA to support the false narrative of the Valley Chief Minister (N Biren Singh) in the conflict-hit state," the COTU said in a statement.

The decision to block the NH-37, one of the two highways that connects Manipur with rest of the country, was taken on a day several Kuki organisations imposed an "indefinite shutdown" in Churachandpur, another Kuki-dominated district, seeking release of the five persons.

The CBI on Sunday arrested four Kuki persons from Churachandpur for their alleged involvement in the abduction and murder of two Meitei students, who remained missing since July 6. The Centre had rushed a special team of the CBI as the Meitei-dominated Imphal Valley erupted in protest after photographs indicating their murder surfaced on social media last week.

On Saturday, the NIA arrested Seiminlun Gangte, a Kuki from Churachandpur, for his alleged involvement in the "transnational conspiracy" that stoked the ongoing violence in Manipur. The NIA said said investigation revealed that the insurgent leaders based in neighbouring Myanmar and Bangladesh have been providing funds to procure arms, ammunition and other "terrorist hardware" which are being sourced both, from across the border, as well as from other terrorist outfits active in Northeast to stoke the current ethnic strife in Manipur.

Kuki organisations alleged that while the Centre rushed to initiate action after protests in the Meitei-dominated Valley, the same promptness was missing in the cases where Kukis became victims.

The COTU demanded that all officers and persons (Metiei) involved in the looting of 6,000 arms and six lakh ammunition from the state arsenal. It also demanded immediate arrests of those involved in the incidents in which two Kuki women were paraded naked and two others were raped and murdered allegedly by the Meiteis.

The organisation also demanded action against those involved in the immolation of a seven-year-old boy and his mother inside an ambulance, beheading of a Kuki youth, David Thiek and other similar incidents. "If there is failure on the part of the Union Home Ministry to heed the voices of fair intervention and there is a lapse of 48-hours, then the COTU will impose indefinite shutdown in the entire Kangpokpi district," it said.

More than 175 people have been killed and over 60,000 others have been displaced due to the clashes between the Meiteis and Kukis in Manipur since May 3.