Manipur: Kuki MLAs Likely To Skip Assembly Session, Fresh Violence Erupts

Most of the Kuki MLAs across party lines are unlikely to attend the upcoming session of the Manipur assembly, according to a report.

The assembly session is slated to start from August 21, but the violence prevalent in the state for over three months means most Kuki MLAs are unlikely to attend, reported PTI.

Notably, 10 Kuki tribal MLAs have already sought a separate administration for the tribal regions of Manipur. In Manipur, the Meitei community comprising around 53 per cent of the population are largely Hindus but are limited to the Imphal valley whereas tribals dominate hilly districts. Kukis are largely Christians.

The development comes amid fresh violence in Manipur in which three people have been killed and 15 houses have been burnt in two districts.

A report has said that, in light of the latest round of violence, the Centre has sent more central security forces personnel to Manipur to contain the situation.

Here we list all the latest updates related to the strife-torn Manipur.

1. Kuki MLAs unlikely to attend Manipur assembly session

Kuki MLAs across party lines have said they are unlikely to attend the upcoming Manipur assembly session.

"In view of the prevailing law and order situation, it will not be possible on my part to attend the upcoming session," said LM Khaute, BJP MLA for Churachandpur, to PTI.

Manipur has been in the grips of ethnic violence sine May 3 when violence erupted between the state's Meitei and tribal communities. Since then, over 150 people have been killed and over 60,000 have been displaced in Manipur. Houses, places of worship, public buildings, and political establishments have been attacked in large numbers since May.

Khaute further told PTI that the violence and the lack of a resolution to demands made by the Kukis for a separate administration "will not make it possible for all the Kuki-Zomi-Hmar MLAs to attend the session".

There are 10 Kuki-Zomi MLAs, including seven from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), two from the Kuki People's Alliance, and one Independent in the 60-member Manipur assembly, as per PTI.

"In the absence of an acceptable political solution for the Kuki-Zo people in Manipur, I don't see any possibility of improvement of the grave situation in the near future. The central government is urged to address the political demands and all issues already raised by the Kuki-Zomi community," Khaute told PTI.

Tongmang Haokip, President of the Kuki People’s Alliance (KPA), also told PTI, "The MLAs will not be safe travelling to Imphal … one BJP MLA Vungzagin Valte who represents Thanlon was badly assaulted there, he is still under medical care."

Haokip said their apprehension could be addressed only “if there is a guarantee from the state government and the Centre and adequate steps are taken for the safety of MLAs."

2. Discussion in assembly unlikely without Kuki MLAs

Analysts have said that any meaningful discussion in the Manipur assembly without Kuki lawmakers is unlikely, reported PTI.

A cabal of Kuki organisations including the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO), Kuki Chiefs' Association (KSAM) and Kuki Women Union (KWU) have also asked the MLAs to refrain from travelling to Imphal to attend the session, reported PTI.

3. Houses burnt in Imphal West, building burnt in Imphal East

Fifteen houses were set on fire in Manipur's Imphal West on Sunday evening in fresh violence, officials said on Sunday.

Officials told PTI that the incident happened at Langol Games village as a mob went on a rampage.

Security personnel had to fire tear gas to disperse the mob and bring the situation under control, said officials to PTI, adding that a 45-year-old man was shot during the violence.

Fresh violence was also reported from Imphal East district's Checkon area where a large commercial establishment was torched on Saturday, reported PTI.

Three nearby houses were also set on fire, said officials to PTI.

4. 3 killed in Bishnupur

Three persons were killed by militants in Bishnupur district on Friday night and another three were injured from bullets, reported PTI.

There was a heavy exchange of fire between government forces and militants in Bishnupur the same day.

The deceased persons include a father-son duo and their bodies were also mutilated.

"The three were gunned down while they were sleeping and their bodies were later slashed with swords at Kwakta in the district by unidentified men, police said on Saturday morning, adding that the assailants came from Churachandpur," reported PTI.

The police said the three were staying at a relief camp and had just returned on Friday.

In another incident, three persons including a policeman were injured following heavy exchange of fire between state forces and militants near Kwakta on Saturday morning, PTI reported police as saying.

5. Gunfight between security forces, militants in Kangpokpi

A gunfight also broke out between security forces personnel and militants in Kangpokpi district on Saturday evening.

Officials said the incident happened at A Mungchamkom in New Keithelmanbi police station area, reported PTI, adding that a man was nabbed and an SLR with 50 rounds was seized from him.

6. Naga body asks Naga MLAs for boycott

A powerful Naga civic body has asked MLAs from the Naga community in Manipur to not attend the assembly elections.

The body called Nana Hoho has said that the MLAs should boycott the assembly session as the Manipur government has been working against peace talks with Naga groups, reported PTI.

7. BJP MLA demands three UTs in Manipur

While 10 tribal MLAs in Manipur have called for a separate administration for tribals of Manipur, Kuki leader and BJP MLA Paolienlal Haokip has gone a step ahead and has demanded that three union territories (UTs) should be created in the state.

Notably, the "separate administration", even as MLAs have demanded it, remains a vaguely-defined notion.

Hakip told PTI earlier: "The way forward, as I see it, is for the Union government to give political and administrative recognition to the ethnic separation, where in the state of Manipur is reorganised as three Union territories."

8. Kuki body assures safety to Kuki MLAs

The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), apex Meitei organisation, has said it would ensure safety of tribal MLAS if "they really want to come", reported PTI.

COCOMI, an umbrella body of several Imphal-based civil society organisations, has been fearing and opposing separate administration or UTs a solution and wants an assembly session to vote against this issue, reported PTI.

COCOMI spokesperson Khuraijam Athouba told PTI, “There should be a unanimous decision against any break-up of Manipur, the central government should enforce detection and detention of illegal migrants and a war should be declared on drugs."

The COCOMI has been alleging that many Kukis are illegal migrants from northwestern Myanmar where racially similar Chins live and that many Kuki villagers cultivate poppies in hillside farms, reported PTI, adding that these allegations have as yet not been proven.

9. 5 policemen suspended over May 4 incident

Manipur Police has suspended five police personnel over the incident of tribal women being paraded and groped naked on May 4, said officials on Sunday.

Immediately after the video of the incident surfaced on July 19, Manipur police decided to suspend the station in-charge of Nongpok Sekmai police station in Thoubal district and four other police personnel, reported PTI. The video of the incident went viral in no time and the incident came to the fore. The incident was condemned across the nation.

The suspension was taken promptly and has not been reversed despite daily protests by some sections of people from the majority community for their reinstatement, said officials to PTI.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been handed the investigation in the case and the Centre has also sought the transfer of trial outside Manipur. The matter is also being heard in the Supreme Court.

10. Centre sends more personnel to Manipur amid fresh violence

Mind fresh incidents of killings and arson in Manipur over the past two days, the Centre has sent more security forces personnel to Manipur, reported NDTV.

NDTV reported that 10 companies drawn from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and Sashastra Seema Pal (SSB) arrived in Manipur on Saturday night.

Since the eruption of violence in Manipur on May 3, the Centre has deployed around 40,000 central armed police forces (CAPF) personnel in Manipur in addition to personnel from the Indian Army.