The Working Committee of the Joint Tribes Council Manipur (JTC-Manipur) today issued its strongest condemnation of the atrocities committed at Kanto Sabal Village, Kangpokpi district, where houses were set ablaze while security forces allegedly prevented community members from intervening and confiscated media personnel’s mobile devices.
The press statement issued by JTC-Manipur stated that “despite the presence of the Punjab Regiment in close proximity, Kuki cannibal who are terrorizing Manipur in collusion with the KNF-P (Terrorist man eating group) reportedly set fire to four to six houses belonging to residents of Kanto Sabal Village (Meitei Community). In the presence of Meitei and Naga civilians as eyewitnesses CRPF and other security forces actively blocked the community members from defending the residents and preventing the destruction of their homes. Media personnel present at the scene had their mobile devices confiscated by security forces, effectively obstructing the documentation of these crimes and suppressing evidence of security force complicity.”
The Working Committee, JTC-Manipur while condemning the atrocities stated that “the deliberate burning of homes, the obstruction of defenders, the confiscation of media evidence, and the failure of security forces to protect vulnerable citizens constitute crimes against humanity that cannot and will not be tolerated. No amount of justification can amend this heinous atrocity. The trust placed in the security forces to defend and protect all citizens, without distinction, has ended today.
“It further states that if security forces have become instruments supporting terrorist groups rather than protectors of the people, they have failed their constitutional and moral purposes. The indigenous peoples of Manipur will no longer tolerate a security apparatus that enables violence against indigenous communities while preventing them from exercising their fundamental right to self-defense.
The JTC-Manipur Working Committee also strongly condemns the partiality and dereliction of duty exhibited by the security forces. The actions witnessed today where security forces actively prevented Meitei and Naga peoples from defending their brethren while perpetrators were allowed to continue their destruction expose a pattern of bias that is a stain upon the honour of the security forces of India.
“Be it known that the indigenous peoples of Manipur the Meitei and Naga communities have exhausted their patience with a system that has failed to protect them. If the charter of demands submitted by the United Naga Council (UNC) and the Joint Tribal Council Manipur (JTC-Manipur) is not delivered upon immediately, the indigenous peoples of this land will be left with no alternative but to rise and reclaim all lands currently allocated to the security forces.
“The Working Committee states with clarity: “We shall no longer provide land, resources, or cooperation to forces that use such assets to enable violence against us rather than protect us from it.”
“Manipur has been gripped by ethnic violence since May 3, 2023, when large-scale conflict broke out between the majority Meitei community and the tribal Kuki-Zo minority. The conflict has displaced over 60,000 people and claimed hundreds of lives. The JTC-Manipur represents the collective voice of indigenous tribal communities demanding justice, accountability, and an end to the partiality that has characterized the state’s response to this protracted crisis.
“The violence that has claimed more than 250 lives since the ethnic conflict erupted. and which has now expanded to include clashes involving Naga communities in a conflict has reached its breaking point. The indigenous peoples of Manipur demand justice, accountability, and an end to the partiality. Should the government fail to act decisively, the consequences will be borne by those in power. History will record whose side the security forces chose on this dark day.”
Issued by:
Media & Publicity
Working Committee
Joint Tribes Council Manipur (JTC-Manipur)
