Churachandpur, April 16: Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) has expressed strong concern over remarks by Govindas Konthoujam, the Home Minister of Manipur, regarding the proposed replacement of central security forces with state forces in the hill areas of the state.
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| Central security forces conduct patrol operations in the hill districts of Manipur, amid ongoing tensions and debate over proposals to replace central forces with state security personnel. (File Photo) |
In a press release issued on April 16, the council said such a move could undermine the fragile stability achieved in the region following the ethnic violence that erupted on May 3, 2023.
The KZC alleged that since the outbreak of the violence, there have been several instances where state forces either failed to prevent attacks on the Kuki-Zo community or were allegedly complicit in the violence. It also pointed to the inability of state forces to prevent large-scale looting of arms, which were later used in attacks against the community.
According to the council, the presence of central security forces has played a stabilising role in the conflict-hit state, particularly in buffer zones between Kuki-Zo and Meitei areas. Their deployment, it said, has helped prevent further escalation of violence.
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The KZC warned that withdrawing or replacing central forces from hill districts and buffer zones could risk undoing the relative calm achieved in recent months and may trigger renewed tensions among communities.
The council urged the state government to refrain from making changes to the current security arrangements and emphasised that maintaining the presence of central forces is essential to ensure neutrality, restore public confidence, and safeguard peace in Manipur.
