Tribal Leaders' Forum Allege Valley Insurgents Leading Manipur Attacks
NDTV
The Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum, or ITLF, alleged tribal civilians defending their villages with licenced weapons were disarmed before they were attacked by "valley underground cadre" disguised as Manipur Police
A large organisation of tribal leaders has demanded the imposition of President's rule in Manipur, two days after fresh violence broke out across the state. The statement comes as Home Minister Amit Shah reached state capital Imphal to review the law and order situation in the northeast state and talk to all communities to bring peace fast.
The Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum, or ITLF, in a statement alleged tribal civilians defending their villages with licenced weapons and basic small arms were disarmed before they were attacked by "valley underground cadre" disguised as Manipur Police.
"While the SoO groups are in their designated camps, the poor tribal villagers defending their villages with just a handful of single barrels guns and a few licensed guns were collected from them by the security forces, leaving them helpless or leaving them to die at the hands of the state-led machinery," the ITLF alleged in the statement, referring to the suspension of operation (SoO) agreement signed between the centre, state and some 25 Kuki insurgent groups.
Under the SoO rules, the insurgents are to be confined in designated camps identified by the government and the weapons kept under locks, regularly monitored.
