Imphal : The Manipur police has filed an FIR against the Indigenous Tribal Leader’s Forum (ITLF) general secretary Muan Tombing for giving an ultimatum to establish “self-governed separate administration” in the Kuki-Zo inhabited areas of the state.
According to the FIR filed by N Thangzamuan, Inspector, Office-in-Charge, Churachandpur Police Station, Tombing has been accused of conspiring for waging or attempting to wage war or abetting waging of war, against the Government of India.
Further punishment for sedition, wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot be committed-if not committed.
The FIR has been filed by N Thangzamuan, Inspector, Office-in-Charge, Churachandpur Police Station under Section 121-A/124-A/153/120-B of IPC.
The Manipur government on Thursday issued a statement strongly condemning the ITLF’s ‘self-rule’ ultimatum. The threat was aimed at vitiating the atmosphere and disturbing the law-and-order situation in Manipur, it said.
“The ITLF’s statement has no legal or constitutional basis. It appears to be motivated. Appropriate legal action is being initiated against the organisation and the persons concerned,” it said.
Ruling legislators in a meeting on Thursday condemned the statement of ITLF and sought appropriate legal action against the ITLF.
“It has been over six months and nothing has been done regarding our demand for a separate administration from the Manipur government. So if our voice is not heard within a couple of weeks, we will set up our self-government. Whether the Centre recognises it or not, we will go ahead,” Tombing had said at the sidelines of a “Mass Rally Against Atrocities on Kuki-Zo Tribals” in the Churachandpur district on Wednesday.
“As in a state or a Union Territory, we will set up a self-government that will look into all matters in the Kuki-Zo areas. We have to do this since our voice has not been heard,” Tombing further said.
Condemning ITLF’s separate administration demand, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) said the demand will only “escalate the prevailing tense situation”.
“It is a conspiracy to permanently rule out peaceful co-existence. It is well known to both the central and state governments that illegal immigrants are primarily behind the violence in Manipur,” COCOMI said.
On August 16, ten Kuki –Zo legislators – five from the BJP, two Janata Dal-United, two Kuki People’s Alliance (KPA) and one Independent legislator, had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi underscoring the need for a “separate administration” in the five hill districts inhabited by the Kuki-Zo community.
These five districts are Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, Chandel, Tengnoupal and Pherzawl.
More than 180 people have been killed and thousands have been rendered homeless due the ethnic strife between the majority Meitei and the Kuki-Zo people broke out on May 3.
