'Preposterous': Kuki body rejects Manipur's alert on militant influx from Myanmar

A collective of Kuki tribal groups in Manipur dismissed the government's alert about the influx of militants from Myanmar as "preposterous" and an attempt to perpetuate biassed ethno-centric narrative.

In Short

• Kuki body claims alert is attempt to push valley community's narrative
• Over 900 militants from Myanmar alleged to enter Manipur
• Kuki groups accuse valley insurgents of ethnic conflict involvement

A collective of Kuki tribal groups in Manipur on Saturday dismissed the government's alert about the influx of Kuki militants from Myanmar and possible militant attacks on villages on the periphery of Imphal Valley.

They called the alert ridiculous and alleged that it was an attempt to "pursue the same ethno-centric narrative of the valley community led by N Biren Singh".

The statement by the apex body of the Kuki tribal groups in Manipur, the Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU), came a day after the security advisor to the state government, Kuldiep Singh, claimed that over 900 militants had entered Manipur from neighbouring Myanmar with plans to attack peripheral villages of the rival community around September 28.

The Kuki body said, "Apropos of the recent press statement issued by Shri Kuldeep Singh, Security Advisor to the state of Manipur on the alleged influx of 900 Kukis from Myanmar to launch an attack is preposterous and an attempt to pursue the same ethno-centric narrative of the valley community led by N Biren Singh".

"On the contrary, the Kuki-Zo (Chin) in Myanmar supported the democratic movement against the mighty military Junta and eventually they had to escape prosecution from the regime for survival by taking shelter in Mizoram and Manipur amongst their brethren in India," the statement added.

Kuki tribal groups also accused valley-based insurgent groups (VBIGs) of being involved in the ethnic conflict, including proscribed secessionist outfits, which are based in Myanmar under the patronage of the Junta, raising concerns about national security.

The Committee on Tribal Unity has appealed to the Government of India to expedite the Suspension of Operation negotiations with the Kuki-Zo insurgent groups. It asserts that only these negotiations can ensure that the Kuki-Zo people are no longer made a ‘scapegoat’ by the majoritarian Meitei community in their broader secessionist movement in Manipur.

Another influential body, the Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO), also condemned the alert about possible militant attacks as "propaganda" and an attempt to malign the community.