ITLF Reacts to Manipur MLAs’ Resolution: Priority Should Be Disarming Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun

Vehemently reacting to the resolution adopted by 34 MLAs of Manipur on Monday, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) said that instead of pointing fingers at the Kuki-Zo community for the ongoing violence, the government should instead disarm the Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun who are responsible for looting huge cache of weapons from the state government armouries and prolonging the violence by attacking Kuki-Zo areas at their whims and fancies, aided by the men in power and the state’s forces.

It may be noted here that the Manipur government on Sunday adopted a series of resolution pertaining to the ongoing violence in the state during a meeting of MLAs held in Imphal. The meeting was attended by 34 legislators of the ruling government. Altogether, seven Naga legislators also attended the assembly, of which four are from the Naga People’s Front (NPF), two from BJP and one from NPP.

Regarding the 34 MLAs’ demand for complete disarmament of all illegal arms in the possession of miscreants and unauthorized persons in the entire State at the earliest by central and state forces, ITLF Secretary Muan Tombing said, “Why should not they disarm the Arambai Tenngol and Meitei Leepun first, instead of pointing fingers at the Kuki-Zo communities.“

He said, there are many illegal arms that were looted from the state arms Cote which is estimated to be around 5000 sophisticated weapons and more than 5 lakhs ammunition that they are using to fight and kill the Kuki-Zo communities.

Denying the allegation leveled by the 34 MLAs that sophisticated weaponry such as Rocket Propelled Grenade launchers on Indian soil are used by Myanmar based armed militants, Tombing said there has been no proof of Myanmar militants’ involvement in the fight for protecting Kuki-Zo’s territory.

“ITLF and the Kuki-Zo people feel that the central forces are maintaining total neutrality. The only thing is that the Meitei militants who are attacking the Kuki-Zo in the hills areas could not annihilate the Kuki-Zo because of the presence of central security forces.”

Why do the central team meet the Meitei radical group Arambai Tennggol who are rather the instigator of the ongoing violence? Are they supporting the Arambai Tenngol in their attacks to the Kuki-Zo communities, he questioned.

The resolutions adopted by the Manipur MLAs on January 21 address critical issues, emphasizing immediate and decisive action to end the cycle of violence, disarmament, and ensure public safety in sensitive areas. The legislators express concerns about SoO agreements with armed militant groups, calling for the abrogation of such pacts. The resolution also urges strict instructions to forces, holding them accountable and replacing those failing to respond appropriately, to rebuild public trust, particularly in areas like Moreh, Bishnupur, Imphal West, Kakching, among others.”