Alleging that the incident on 14th July 2024 in Jiribam was a “state-sponsored attack” against the Kuki-Zo people, the Kuki Inpi has made an “ultimate call to concerned authorities” to withdraw all Meitei central armed forces from the Kuki-Zo areas and also prohibit the Meitei state forces to operate in these areas. It claimed that the continued presence of the security forces in the regions “exacerbates tensions and hampers efforts to restore peace.”
In a press statement, issued on 14th July 2024, the apex Kuki organisation accused the combined force of Meitei State Forces, Valley Based Insurgent Groups (VBIGs) including the Arambai Tenggol and also the CRPF of “sustained and coordinated attacks on the Kuki-Zo people in the Jiribam region”. It also said that these attacks “represent a ruthless attempt to further the ethnic persecution campaign of the Manipur state government and radical Meitei leadership”.
This statement was issued after the incident in Jiribam on Sunday where a CRPF personnel was killed and two Manipur Police personnel sustained splinter injuries.
According to the Manipur Police, the firing began around 9:00 am when a team of Manipur Police and CRPF “was fired upon heavily with sophisticated weapons by suspected to be armed Kuki militants from multiple locations.” It informed that the security forces were carrying out checking of security forces deployment, area domination and enquiry into a firing incident at Mongbung village the previous night. The security forces also retaliated and encounter ensued for 15-20 minutes, it added.
The martyr was identified as one CRPF driver namely, Ajoy Kumar Jha (43 yrs) S/o Harischandra of Maghupur, Madhubani Bihar of C/20 CRPF.
Meanwhile, Sunday’s incident has brought up fresh criticisms against Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is yet to make a visit to the State since violence struck 14 months ago.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, in a post on X, expressed sadness over the incident and death of the CRPF jawan and questioned, “When will the central government and the Prime Minister wake up from their slumber?”
On 3rd July 2024, PM Modi said in the Rajya Sabha that the Government was making all efforts to “normalise” the situation in Manipur. He claimed that incidents of violence were “continuously reducing” and that there were hopes for peace. The Prime Minister also urged the Opposition parties to “rise above politics”.
Read more: Not happy with progress in Manipur: LoP Rahul Gandhi during third visit to State since 3rd May 2023
