Meiteis Should Reflect on Their Actions Before Accusing Others of Being Terrorists

Amidst the Meiteis’ heinous crimes committed against the minority tribals, the Kuki-Zo people have, once again, shown a remarkable goodwill gesture by offering olive branches for Peaceful resolution to the ongoing state-sponsored ethnic cleansing pogrom. Their peaceful stance, however, starkly contrasts the Meiteis’ violent agendas - incited and orchestrated by the narcissistic Meitei Chief Minister N. Biren Singh and his political cohorts.

Recently, the lives of three suspected members of the Arambai Tenggol, who mistakenly crossed the buffer zones into the Kuki territory, were spared,  kept alive and safely released for reunion with their family members by the Kuki community. Their goodwill stance has demonstrated a commitment to humanitarian principles even amidst the Meiteis’ war crimes.

This is not the first time the Kuki-Zo, in good gesture, released Meitei individuals who had crossed-over Kukis’ ancestral land since the beginning of the ethnic persecution. Last year, four Meitei youth were also released without any harm by the Kuki-Zo community of Saikul areas. Despite the unabated Meiteis’ atrocities toward the minority Kuki-Zo community, the Kukis follow “War Ethics” time and again.

In contrast to the Kukis’ goodwill stance, the Meiteis resort to inhumane behaviours unabatedly. Whenever Meitei individuals cross into Kuki buffer zones, they are often treated with care and safety. But the Kukis who mistakenly enter the Meiteis’ ancestral territory were tortured to death and their lifeless bodies desecrated.

On November 7, 2023, a Kuki family tragically lost their lives after they inadvertently entered the Meitei-controlled area Kangchup, adjoining Kukis’ Kangpokpi district. They were brutally murdered by Meitei assailants, and to this day, the body of one victim, Thangjalam, remains unaccounted for. Disturbing footage of Thangjalam being chased and savagely butchered by the Meitei attackers was circulated widely, shedding light on the horrific violence inflicted on the Kukis.

While the bodies of the other members of his family have been recovered, Thangjalam remains missing, and the Kukis call for immediate action to address such a grave issue.

On September 8, 2024, a former havaldar in the mechanised infantry of the Assam Regiment, Limkholal Mate of Motbung Saron Veng village in Kangpokpi district, was killed after being kidnapped by the Meitei radicals in Sekmai, a Meitei inhabited locality of Imphal West district. His wife needed medicines – and his under-construction house needed hardware supplies. So, he left in his Scorpio for Shantipur, an area populated by Nepalis, around 5 pm on Sunday, 8 September.

He was beaten mercilessly and killed and the Meiteis around him were heard laughing and abusing the Kukis.

Now, the nation must confront the pressing question: Who are the true perpetrators/terrorists who profess terrorism in this prolonged crisis? The Meiteis should reflect on their actions before accusing others of being terrorists.

In the ongoing ethnic persecution, many innocent Kuki-Zo civilians, unarmed and harmless were kidnapped and mercilessly killed by Meitei radicalised and terrorist armed groups in multiple incidents. Sadly, the Meitei perpetrators of heinous crimes continue their atrocities with impunity, knowing that the government would not intervene.

Other pertinent questions are: Why has the Government of India still allowed the architect of the violence, N. Biren Singh, to act with impunity? How long will he evade justice for his heinous crimes? His actions must be investigated as his shocking confession in audiotapes is proof of state-sponsored terrorism.

This is not just a failure of governance but, an active negligence by the Government of India under the leadership of Narendra Modi. The silence from the Prime Minister’s Office or Ministry of Home Affairs indicates their complicity in ethnic pogroms against the minority tribal populace. How many more Kuki-Zo lives must be sacrificed before the government takes action?

Mention may be made that there is a private militia called Arambai Tenggol running around the Meiteis’ valley of Imphal with impunity. The conduct of this armed group precisely meets the definition and fulfills criteria of a terrorist organisation. When will the Government of India take action against such acts of terrorism?

It is important to note that the Kukis’ good gesture should not be taken for granted. Let the nation support the demand of the Kukis for Separate Administration which is a  legitimate demand under the framework of the Indian Constitution.