Manipur Violence: Sit-in protest by Meiteis in Bengaluru demanding end of narco-terrorism and infiltration

Imphal: The Karnataka Metei Association (KMA) organised a sit-in protest at Freedom Park, Bengaluru, on August 5, 2023. The protesters’ primary demand was to maintain Manipur’s integrity and end the narco-terrorism in the state. The association demanded an immediate end to violence in Manipur which has continued for the last three months.

KMA’s protest in Bangalore demanded “One Manipur: Save Manipur from Illegal Infiltration and Exploitation,” The protest aimed to foster peace in Manipur and bring an end to the ongoing violence between the Meiteis and Kukis communities. Leaders of the KMA said that their primary concern is the alarming situation of Narco-Terrorism, which poses a serious threat to national security, and the demand for separate administration from the Kuki community.

Push territorial integrity of Manipur

The association firmly stands for the territorial integrity of Manipur, the restoration of peace in the state, and the implementation of the one state, one administration policy, a press statement by KMA reads. More than 1000 members of KMA, including students, professionals, and eminent personalities from both Karnataka and Manipur, actively took part in the peaceful protest. The Karnataka Meitei Association believes that a peaceful and inclusive approach is essential in resolving the longstanding issues faced by Manipur.

Meanwhile, Manipur police said that a report vide a press release dated August 5, 2023, highlighted the looting of arms and ammunition from different police stations and armouries in the valley districts only. The information is misleading to the extent that arms and ammunition were looted from different Police Stations and armouries of both hill and valley districts.

Actions of Security Forces and Government

Security forces have continuously raided the hill and valley areas to recover the looted arms and ammunition. As a result of which, 1057 arms and 14201 ammunition have been recovered in the valley districts and 138 arms and 121 ammunition have been recovered in the hill districts. In the 3rd August arms loot incident, the security forces were able to recover 15 arms.

On August 5 also there was an attempt to snatch weapons from a police team at Toupokpi Police Outpost in Lilong Chajing, Imphal-West district. However, Police were alerted and they could chase and recover all four weapons. One person was arrested and the car used by the miscreants was also recovered. Raids are continued to arrest other culprits.

On August 5 evening in a gunfight between a combined team of 5/9 GR & 21 SF with militants at village A. Mungchamkom under New Keithelmanbi Police Station, one individual who is a cadre of the non-SoO organisation was arrested and one SLR along with 1 magazine and 50 rounds were seized from his possession.