Urgent Plea: Kuki-Zo MLAs Emotionally Urge PM Modi to Safeguard Assam Rifles Amidst Rising Security Concerns
IMPHAL: Ten Kuki-Zo MLAs from Manipur have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the continued deployment of Assam Rifles in the state’s sensitive areas. They expressed concerns that replacing Assam Rifles with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) could escalate violence in the region. The MLAs argued that the Centre’s conflict resolution efforts in Manipur could be jeopardized if Assam Rifles, a force with deep knowledge of the local terrain and population, were replaced. The letter emphasized that Assam Rifles’ understanding of the area and its people is crucial for maintaining peace and order.
The appeal arises amid reports suggesting that two Assam Rifles battalions stationed in Kangvai and Kangpokpi are set to be replaced by CRPF units. The Kuki-Zo MLAs praised Assam Rifles as a “neutral force” and described the proposed replacement as a “sinister design.” Their memorandum stated, “We have come to learn that there is a plan to withdraw the 9th and 22nd Battalions of Assam Rifles from their current sensitive deployment in Kangvai and Kangpokpi. This decision to replace these battalions with CRPF at this critical juncture is nothing but sinister design.”
The legislators called for the Prime Minister’s intervention following media reports suggesting a significant redeployment of Assam Rifles troops from Manipur to Jammu. They highlighted the vital role Assam Rifles plays in preventing violence and maintaining law and order, describing their service as unbiased and instrumental.
Assam Rifles, they argued, has the most experience among central armed police forces in Manipur, with unparalleled knowledge of both Kuki-Zo tribals and Meiteis. Their understanding of the region’s culture and geopolitical sensitivities has been crucial in fostering peace. The MLAs appealed that if the 9th and 22nd Battalions of Assam Rifles are to be moved, they should be replaced by other battalions from the same force rather than by CRPF. They stressed that any shift in deployment could disrupt the delicate peace in the area.
Since May of last year, Manipur has been plagued by ethnic violence between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and hill-dwelling Kuki-Zo groups, leading to over 200 deaths and thousands rendered homeless. This ongoing strife underscores the necessity of experienced and neutral forces like Assam Rifles in the region.
Original Story https://www.sentinelassam.com/north-east-india-news/manipur/manipur-kuki-zo-mlas-urge-pm-modi-to-retain-assam-rifles-amid-security-concerns
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