“It is becoming apparent that the Kuki-Chin elites are thriving on violence and partisan narratives while suppressing democratic voices within,” said Taragi Cheisu.
TFM Desk
Taragi Cheisu, a prominent citizens’ group based in Imphal, has called on the authorities to stop the “balkanization” of Manipur and demanded justice for the victims of recent drone bombings in the region.
In a press note issued on Tuesday, Taragi Cheisu stated that the recent escalation of violence was a deliberate attempt to perpetuate the conflict that erupted in Manipur on May 3, 2023. “No right-thinking community would hesitate to condemn the latest round of drone-propelled bomb attacks on Koutruk, a foothill village in Imphal West, and several other villages on September 1, 2024, at 2 PM,” the note read.
The drone bombings resulted in the deaths of two civilians, including a young mother, and left her daughter and several others injured. Taragi Cheisu offered condolences to the bereaved families and extended collective prayers for the speedy and full recovery of those injured in the attacks.
“It has become evident that the highly trained Kuki-Chin armed groups are regrouping to exploit the reduced presence of state machinery in the interior areas of Manipur since the outbreak of the current conflict. The de facto presence of Kuki armed groups in the hills surrounding the valley has enabled them to continue with their surreptitious plans, meticulously targeting vulnerable Meitei villages in the foothills to maintain their exclusive pan-ethnic agenda,” said Taragi Cheisu.
The civil society group pointed out that whenever there are signs of reconciliation among civilians—whether in Pallel, Jiribam, or Moreh—the “Kuki supremacists” meticulously unleash violence to sabotage it. The latest drone bomb attacks on various fronts of the Imphal Valley are just another episodic design to “somehow arouse violent Kuki sentiment and weaponize ethnicity through long-drawn-out victim-playing false narratives.”
Taragi Cheisu emphasized the need for collective ownership of the suffering faced by unarmed villagers, whose homes have been systematically uprooted by persistent violent attacks from Kuki-Chin armed groups. The group also expressed empathy for the victims who have lost their lives, limbs, and personal belongings.
With the utmost respect for the sacrifices made, Taragi Cheisu affirmed its solidarity with the victims of the drone-propelled aggression on civilians, which is prohibited by international humanitarian law, even during wartime.
The group stated that it was “alarmed by the increasing use of highly sophisticated weaponry in the attacks by Kuki-Chin groups.” They also expressed concern over the failure of police and other security establishments to monitor, detect, and prevent the mobilization of these advanced weapons.
“It is utterly disbelieving that the central security forces remain indifferent despite their robust presence in the state, failing to contain the law-breaking spree of the Kuki-Chin armed groups, who evidently collaborate with the so-called Kuki civil society groups. They have wreaked havoc on the highways with a perpetual indulgence in looting, arson, kidnapping, murder, and extortion,” said Taragi Cheisu. The group questioned the apparent complicity of the central security forces (CSF) in not deploying drone jammers, which are known to be in their possession. “It is crucial to question the probity of the CSF operating in the area for allowing these attacks to happen,” they added.
The reported disruption of the state police by CSFs from entering the areas where the Kuki armed groups launched the attacks is unacceptable, Taragi Cheisu asserted. “We appeal to those involved in negotiations with the Suspension of Operations groups to emphasize that the continued perpetration of such dastardly acts will not further their goals and that they must be held accountable for any further orchestration of violence in the state,” they said.
The group also highlighted that any call to disintegrate Manipur is untenable, given the historical and legal status of the state, which had international treaty-making power, an autonomous constitutional process, and an elected government, making it notably distinct from the rest of the erstwhile princely states in India.
“The concerned CSOs, pressure groups, and the general public must exercise extraordinary caution not to fall prey to the war-mongering antics and deliberate provocations of the Kuki-Chin groups. It is becoming apparent that the Kuki-Chin elites are thriving on violence and partisan narratives while suppressing democratic voices within,” said Taragi Cheisu.
The body condemned the heinous air attacks on Manipur civilians, comparing these inhumane acts of drone bombing to those seen in West Asia, Palestine, Myanmar, and other conflict zones. “It is high time that the perpetrators be brought to justice and that Manipur is saved from further balkanization.”
Finally, Taragi Cheisu called on every right-thinking citizen, community, and civil society to remain resilient and uphold the spirit of justice and humanitarian values.