Kuki MPs demand extension of AFSPA to entire Manipur to recover looted arms

The 10 Kuki MPs of the Anipur Assembly, including seven from the state’s ruling BJP-led alliance, have demanded that AFSPA be extended to the entire state to recover looted arms.

On November 14, the Center reintroduced the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Manipur’s six police stations, including violence-hit Jiribam. The Union Home Ministry said the decision was taken in view of the “ongoing unstable situation” there due to ethnic conflict.

In a joint statement, the 10 Kuki MPs said: “The introduction of the AFSPA as per the orders dated November 14, 2024 indeed requires an immediate review to extend the law to the remaining 13 police jurisdictions.”

They claimed that the AFSPA should be implemented across the state to facilitate the recovery of the “more than 6,000 sophisticated weapons” looted by Meiteis since May 3 last year, as it is a long overdue measure to curb the spread acts of violence.

The ethnic violence between Meities and Kukis began on May 3, 2023, after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organized in the hill districts of the state to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Since then, more than 220 people have been killed in the violence.

The central and state governments must take all necessary steps to restore peace and normalcy in Manipur by initiating a political dialogue to bring lasting peace to the troubled region, said the statement by Kuki lawmakers, including five from the BJP and two from the JD(U). .

The 10 tribal MPs also criticized the resolution passed by MLAs of the ruling BJP-led NDA in Manipur calling for a “mass operation” against the Kuki militants responsible for the killing of three women and three children in Jiribam district within seven days were responsible.

Kuki lawmakers claimed the resolution was “divisive, one-sided and communal.”

They also alleged that the resolution seeking to hand over the cases related to the deaths of six civilians to the NIA “smacks of a communalized state”.

“We recommend that all civilian killings from May 3, 2023 in both the valley and hills should be handed over to the NIA,” they added.