Delhi Meetei Co-Ordinating Committee (DMCC) organised a Press conference at the Press Club of India, Delhi, on May 28, 2024, in which they exposed how Meiteis have been consistently attacked by Kuki militants in the past year. They openly said that since the Manipur violence broke out on May 3, 2023, they have been targeted and killed. It has been more than a year, and there are no signs of violence coming to an end in the north eastern state of Manipur.
The objective of the conference was to observe last year’s Kuki militants coordinated attacks on 13 Meitei villages on May 28, 2023, and to tell the Government of India about the pattern of military attacks on the Meiteis. Recalling the attacks that took place during the Manipur violence, that happened a day ahead of the proposed visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Dr Seram Rojesh, Convenor, Delhi Meetei Co-Ordinating Committee (DMCC) questioned how such a severe attack could have taken place when high profiled General Manoj Panday, Chief of the Army Staff, and East-ern Command Chief Lt General RP Kalita were stationed in Imphal.
Taking about the details of the attack that happened on May 28, 2023, Dr Seram Rojesh said, “at the early hour, thirteen Meitei villages were brutally attacked with sophisticated guns in three districts of Manipur ie. (1) Phayeng Khunou Freedom Hills around 1:30 am, (2) SingdaKadangband Part 1of Imphal East District, (3)Sugnu-, (4).Serou, (5)Wapokpi -1.30 am,(6) Chandonpokpi at 2.35 am ,(7) Kamson Tampak at 2:35 am, (8) Napat , (9) Tangjengb Ahallup at 2:35 am,(10) Yaingangpokpi, (11) Sanasabi (12) Shati Khongbal and (13). Gwaltabi of Bishnupur District at 3.30 am. In these brutal attacks, 12 Meiteis, including two state forces and two kukis, were killed and 44 people were injured.
This is just one such instance of the coordinated attack on the Meiteis by the Kuki militants. The other coordinated and brutal attack took place against Manipur Police for more than eight days, from December 31, 2023, to January 8, 2024, at Moreh, Tengnoupal district. On December 31, 2023, during the well coordinated attacks on security forces, Kuki militants fired a barrage of bombs and rocket propelled grenades (RPGs) at police commandos at Moreh , injuring at least four personnel. Heavily armed Kuki militants launched the attacks on the State security forces at three different locations in Moreh and four personnel were injured.
Notably, the “intensified” attacks came minutes after Kuki militants ambushed State police and Special Commandos on routine duty near Assam Rifles’ Key Location Point at Moreh, injuring one personnel yesterday. The Kuki militants intensified their attack in the evening by firing a barrage of bullets, bombs and RPGs. After a lull for some hours, heavily armed Kuki militants attacked the commando personnel at their camps and barracks at Moreh Turel Wangma at around 11.30 pm on January 2, 2024. During the attack, one rocket propelled grenade (RPG) reportedly burst through the wall and exploded inside a room, damaging the building, At least eight security personnel sustained injuries in an attack by Kuki militants at the border town of Moreh. Of the eight injured, five are special commando personnel, while the remaining three are from BSF. Kuki militants also fired two bombs from the western side of Moreh Hospital at around 7.
A joint team of Moreh police, Manipur Rifles, IRB personnel and the 192 Battalion of BSF was heading to Chavangphai and Canan Veng to carry out massive search operations in the wake of resurgence of Kuki militants’ hostilities in the border town. The security forces, however, were ambushed by suspected cadres of KNA, UKLF and KNA-B using explosives and sophisticated weapons, leaving some security personnel injured. Four special commando personnel and a Head Constable of BSF were airlifted to Imphal and taken to RIMS, while the other two BSF personnel were discharged as their injuries were not serious. Personnel of the State security forces and Border Security Force came under heavy fire by Kuki militants at an area near 5 Assam Rifles camp at Moreh on January 2, 2024.
However, the 5 Assam Rifles did not engage the Kuki militants, which had fired bullets and bombs at the State security forces and BSF personnel. This was very unfortunate and unbecoming of the Assam Rifles.
Again, using sophisticated weapons, including bombs, Kuki militants once again launched a fierce attack against security forces, particularly Manipur Police personnel stationed in the border town of Moreh. Kuki militants opened heavy firing and started shelling three different places of Moreh town at around 7.20 on January 7, 2024 at Moreh ward number 7 Heinoumakhong Leikai, Moreh Bazar, and New Moreh were targeted by the Kuki militants with bombs and heavy firing. The attack came after the Kuki militants warned and asked the Kuki civilians to vacate Moreh town before January 7.
According to the police, the Kuki militants launched the fresh attack on Manipur Police Commando Complex as well as other posts in Moreh Bazar, Ward No 7, 9, and Moreh Court Complex at around 7 pm. The gunfight lasted till around 9 pm.
On January 8, 2024, heavy fighting between Kuki militants and state security forces rocked the border town of Moreh for over five hours. State Police and Special Commando personnel were on routine foot-patrolling duty at Moreh Ward Number 7, Canan Veng, when heavily armed Kuki militants attacked the security personnel using sophisticated weapons and bombs at around 8.45 am.
Soon after launching a fierce attack on state security personnel at Canan Veng, Kuki militants launched more attacks on security personnel at two other locations, viz; Moreh Ward Number 8 or New Moreh, and Moreh Ward Number 9 near the Elora Hotel.
Taking serious note of the persistent attack by Kuki militants on state forces in Moreh town, the commanding officer of 5 Assam Rifles said after 8 days of attack by Kuki militants that the force will give a befitting response if the attacks continue further. He said that some of the bombs fired by Kuki militants towards state security forces landed near the camps of the Assam Rifles, BSF, and RAF. He also warned of retaliation from the Assam Rifles if there was any further attack on the state security forces.
On January 12, 2024, not even a week after Director General of Assam Rifles Lieutenant General PC Nair had said that Central forces would retaliate if provoked, special commandos of Manipur police posted at Moreh Hospital were attacked by Kuki militants yet again using sniper rifles and other sophisticated weapons. The attack on the special commandos was carried out in the morning by Kuki militants from the Chavanphai hill range.
Sujata, Convenor of Meira Paibi (a women’s organisation based in Manipur) expressed her anguish over the ongoing fight in which the main victims were the Meitei. She stated that it was distressing to see that future generations are getting destroyed owing to the ongoing ethnic violence that is happening, and no concrete steps were being taken either by the state or the union governments to bring it to an end.
Dr. Bobo, spokesperson of the DMCC, said while speaking to the media that it is high time that the union and the state governments found a permanent solution to this problem. He stated, “To bring permanent peace in Manipur, the government of India should take action against all lawbreakers in Manipur, and they should stop iding with Kuki militants.”
The primary objective of the press conference was to bring to the attention of the union and state governments that the Meitie community wants peace and that it is high time that permanent peace is restored in the state.
