Kuki-Zo MPs urge Centre to rethink decision to replace Assam Rifles in Manipur

Ten Kuki-Zomi-Hmar MPs from Manipur on Friday submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, appealing to withdraw the central government’s decision to replace the 9th and 22nd battalions of the Assam Rifles and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

Saitu MLA Haokholet Kipgen, Saikul MLA Kimneo Haokip Hangshing, Churachandpur MLA LM Khaute, Thanlon MLA Vungzagin Valte, Tipaimukh MLA Ngursanglur Sanate, Tengnoupal MLA Letpao Haokip, Henglep MLA Letzamang Haokip, Singngat MLA Chinlunthang, Saikot MLA Paolenlal Haokip and Kangpokpi MLA N emcha Kipgen former legislators submitted a memorandum asking the Center to rethink the issue.

The memorandum stated that the presence of the Assam Rifles was essential to maintain the current status quo in the “buffer zones”, calling for their replacement by other battalions of the Assam Rifles.

It is also alleged that the decision to withdraw the 9th and 22nd battalions of Assam Rifles from Kangvai and Kangpokpi was taken under pressure from “biased elements” in the state government.

“We have learnt that there is a plan to withdraw the 9th and 22nd Assam Rifles battalions from their current sensitive posting in Kangvai and Kangpokpi, in response to pressure from religious minorities in the state government who have stopped at nothing to present the AR in a bad light, for the simple reason that they were ready to serve as probably the best neutral force so far,” the memorandum stated.

The document also stated that the decision to replace the Assam Rifles battalion with the CRPF at this critical juncture is nothing but a sinister plan to accelerate the campaign of ethnic cleansing by the Meitei majority against the Kuki-Zo community.

Ten MPs further requested Prime Minister Modi to intervene to withdraw or rectify the decision “in the best interest of justice”.