The recent memorandum of the Kuki MLAs submitted to the Prime Minister of India has raised concerns about the Assam Rifles’ role in the conflict, says COCOMI
TFM Desk
Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has accused the Assam Rifles (AR) of bias in the ongoing conflict, citing a memorandum submitted by 10 Kuki MLAs to the Prime Minister.
According to a press note issued by Yumkhaibam Surjit Khuman, Media Coordinator for COCOMI, the violence that began on May 3, which immediately resulted in the deaths of 15 people, prompted the state government to request additional paramilitary forces due to insufficient security arrangements. Various central forces, including CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP, SSB, Jat Regiment, and Gorkha Regiment, have been deployed in the conflict but these forces did not face allegations of partiality shown by AR, said the organization.
COCOMI has been criticizing the AR, claiming their actions have worsened the conflict. The organization had also alleged that AR was supporting “narco-terrorists” involved in illegal activities such as poppy cultivation and trans-border smuggling of contraband items, suggesting that these actions highlight “lack of neutrality” by AR, said the press note.
Kuki organizations, including Kuki Inpi, ITLF, and CoTU, have protested against the removal of the AR. COCOMI alleges that these groups have supported AR’s “continued deployment.” “These groups and the Kuki MLAs have submitted memorandums opposing the AR’s replacement. COCOMI and the public continue to express frustration, demanding impartial and effective intervention to address the unrest and ensure fair security measures. Recent suspicions about the Assam Rifles siding with a particular group have emerged, as no protests were reported when central forces such as CRPF, BSF, Jat Regiment, and Gorkha Regiment withdrew from some areas. This situation has intensified concerns about the Assam Rifles’ role in the conflict,” the COCOMI statement further said.