Tribal organisations have advised people to not move out between September 26 to 28. (File Photo

Manipur tribal group announces restrictions in wake of possible militant attack

Several tribal organisations, including the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF), have issued an advisory asking people not to travel outside Kuki-Zo-dominated areas between September 26-28.

by · India Today

In Short

  • Advisory issued to avoid travel between September 26-28
  • Schools and offices to close during specified dates
  • Manipur is facing ethnic violence since last year

Anticipating an attack on Kuki-Zo tribals in Manipur, various tribal organisations, including the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF), have issued an advisory asking people not to travel outside Kuki-Zo dominated areas between September 26-28.

On Tuesday, September 24, a meeting was called by ITLF members, following which closure of borders (between Kuki-Zo community and Meitei inhabited areas) from September 26 to 29, closure of schools, institutions and offices from September 27 to 29 and complete shutdown on September 28 in the areas inhabited by tribals belonging to Kuki-Zo community was announced.

The tribal body in their statement claimed that the Manipur government had accumulated highly advanced MMG MK 2A1 weapons earlier this month.

"Additionally, we ask that all district security personnel, be it state or Central, remain extremely vigilant in order to thwart any external attacks," an ITLF statement said.

The ITLF further added that there were indications that an attack plan was being intended towards the Kuki-Zo community.

"Previously, an assault on Kuki-Zo occurred shortly after the Manipur government announced the presence of 200 Kuki militants in Jiribam. The 900 armed men from Myanmar who are supposedly moving must be a ruse for attacking the Kuki-Zo community," the statement said.

The ethnic violence in Manipur first broke out on May 3 last year after a tribal solidarity march in the hill districts of the state to protest against the majority Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status.

Since then, over 220 people belonging to both the Kuki and Meitei communities and security personnel have been killed in the continuing violence.