Imphal: Kuki-Zo people has warned that any further attempts to intrude into Kuki-Zo area by Meitei or anyone representing the Government of Manipur will be met with severe consequences.
The Kuki-Zo tribals will not tolerate the infiltration on their life by the biased Manipur government and will resist tooth and nail against any attempts to deny us our right to live and survival.
The statement was made in a press release issued by information and media cell, Kuki Inpi Chandel on Saturday.
It mentioned “The Meitei Government, unable to tolerate the Kuki-Zo’s capability to construct such a vital bridge, views this project as a threat to their agenda of isolating and annihilating Kuki-Zo tribals in these regions.”
An order issued on March 21, by deputy commissioner, Chandel directed to stop construction bridge on Manipur River at K. Molnom village without the permission of competent authority.
Amidst the order to immediately stop construction of the bridge it is reported that most of the construction work for foundation of the RCC bridge has been completed.
However, as a video clip of constructing the bridge surfaced on social media, a team of Manipur police tried to intervene the construction work on Saturday but the state forces were blocked by the women folks of Kuki community reportedly backed by the Assam Rifles and Kuki armed militants.
The release stated that the Kuki-Zo inhabitants in the Chandel district side of the Sugnu foothills have always relied on two main bridges: the Napat bridge over the Gunpi (Imphal) river and the Serou bridge over the Chakpi river. However, the Napat bridge connecting Sugnu to Lamka was maliciously destroyed by Meiteis on May 28, 2023, further isolating the Kuki-Zo areas.
It alleged that there is clear evidence that the state government has aided and abetted this genocide against Kuki-Zo people and hence has lost its authority to enforce its biased rules in the Kuki-Zo areas.
The geographical reality has left the Kuki-Zo areas of Chandel and Tengnoupal districts completely cut off from the valley and other Kuki-Zo dominated hill districts. The bridge will connect Chandel district with Churachandpur district to provide essential supplies. The bridge is constructed with the donations from Kuki-Zo people without any assistance from the state government or organisation, it added.
Earlier in media reports during the initial months of the present ethnic clash it was stated that five Myanmar national were found receiving medical treatment for bullet injuries at Churachandpur district hospital.
Kuki Inpi, Chandel in the release vehemently condemns the blatant attempt by Manipur Police along with alleged Meitei insurgents and terrorists to intrude into Kuki-Zo territory on May 25, 2024, to destroy the Selloitha Bridge, which is currently under construction.
“The Kuki Inpi Chandel shall not be responsible for any consequences arising out of the Meitei-centric Government of Manipur and the Meitei state police forces attempt to deny our right to existence and persisting in their agenda to destroy our vital bridge.”
+ There are no comments
Add yours