13 people were killed in a gunfight in the Kuki-Zo dominated Tengnoupal district of Manipur on Monday. Manipur Police, confirming the reports on X, said that the gunfight too place between “unknown armed miscreants” at Leithao village. The police also informed that on learning about the fight, the police and security forces rushed to the spot and discovered 13 bodies.
“On 04.12.2023, in a gunfight between unknown armed miscreants at Leithao village near Saibol in Tengnoupal District under Machi Police Station, 13 (thirteen) persons have been killed. District police and security forces rushed to the spot, a case has been registered and investigation is going on,” Manipur Police said.
Meanwhile, earlier in the day, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) said that the Tripartite Peace Agreement between the Government of India, Manipur Government and United National Liberation Front (UNLF) sparks concerns for the safety and well-being of the people belonging to Kuki-Zo community. The Forum claimed that this agreement presents new threats to the community and condemned it as “part of a larger agenda of the Meitei government to endanger the existence of the Kuki-Zo people.”
ITLF also said in its press release that the Peace Agreement sheds light to Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s alleged connection to Meitei underground outfits including ITLF. It further mentioned that there were reports suggesting that the Manipur government were facilitating the return of UNLF cadres from Myanmar to Manipur and urged the Central Government to safeguard the lives of the Kuki-Zo people.
The Government of India and the Government of Manipur had on 29th November 2023 signed a Peace Agreement with banned outfit UNLF which the Union Home Minister Amit Shah declared as a “landmark achievement”.
On Monday again, 4th December 2023, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced that around 25 leaders/cadres of Meitei underground outfit National Revolutionary Front Manipur (NRFM) led by Major Boicha (Vice Chief of Army Staff of NRFM) along with 25 weapons have joined UNLF on 02nd December 2023. It stated that the development is likely to give a momentum to efforts of Government of India to restore peace and normalcy in Manipur.
The development will encourage other Meitei UG outfits to join peace process and pursue their demands in a democratic manner besides giving a boost to fulfil Modi Government’s vision of ‘Insurgency free and prosperous North East’, it said.
