Amid recent flare-up, Manipur body calls for national focus on ‘Kuki extremists’

COCOMI seeks national attention on Kuki extremists attacking security forces in Manipur, bordering Myanmar.

GUWAHATI

The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), an Imphal Valley-based socio-cultural organisation, has sought national focus on the increasing involvement of Kuki extremists in a series of attacks on security forces in Moreh area bordering Myanmar.

The organisation said New Delhi should take serious note of the escalation of violence along the India-Myanmar border following an update of the Moreh incidents by Kuldiep Singh, the State’s security advisor.

“Since yesterday [January 17] morning, a large number of Kuki militants started firing at commando posts which are at three locations... PDF insurgents operating at Moreh and maybe some reinforcement from Burma [Myanmar] side also. They attacked the State forces at Moreh,” Mr. Singh said at a media briefing in Imphal on Thursday.

PDF refers to the People’s Defence Force, the armed wing of the exiled National Unity Government in Myanmar.

There are more than 25 extremist groups catering to the Kuki-Zomi aspirations, almost all of which had inked an agreement for the suspension of operations much before the ethnic violence broke out in Manipur on May 3, 2023. The conflict continues to simmer in the State.

“The COCOMI urges an analysis of Mr. Singh’s critical statements, shedding light on the potential engagement of foreign mercenaries and Kuki militants, currently in suspension of operations with the Government of India,” the organisation said in a statement on Friday.