Tribal body urges Centre to re-impose AFSPA in valley areas of Manipur

IMPHAL: A tribal organisation from Manipur - the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) - has urged the central government to re-impose the armed forces special powers act (AFSPA) in Imphal Valley of the state.

CoTU submitted a memorandum to union home minister Amit Shah, urging the rescindment of the recent Manipur government order regarding the transfer and posting of police personnel due to “impracticality and impossibility”.

Additionally, the tribal body has appealed to union home minister Amit Shah to reintroduce AFSPA in the 19 police stations in Imphal valley of Manipur.

The memorandum was delivered to the union home minister through the deputy commissioner (DC) of Kangpokpi district in Manipur.

In the memorandum, CoTU expressed concerns regarding the recent transfer and posting of police officers/personnel on February 14, particularly involving 108 Kuki-Zo police personnel.

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The CoTU argued that amidst heightened ethnic tensions, such actions lack rationale and are unwarranted.

Furthermore, the CoTU highlighted that numerous high-ranking Kuki-Zo civil and police officers are unable to carry out their duties safely, rendering it impractical and unfeasible for the 108 police personnel to return to Imphal for duty.

Bringing attention to the ongoing sectarian conflict in Manipur, now in its tenth month, CoTU emphasized the need for immediate security measures.

They criticized the current priorities of the Manipur government, focusing on the recovery of looted arms and ammunition rather than addressing the root causes of the conflict, such as foreign involvement.

The CoTU advocated for the imposition of AFSPA in all 19 police stations in the Imphal Valley districts as a crucial step in recovering the looted arms and countering armed miscreants effectively.