Kuki MLAs demand separate administration: Manipur state ‘miserably failed’ to protect us

In a statement, the 10 MLAs said that living amidst the Meiteis after these clashes “is as good as death for our people”.

Among those who signed the statement is BJP MLA Vunzagin Valte, who was critically injured after an attack on his vehicle in Imphal on May 4. He had to be airlifted to Delhi for treatment. The signatories also include BJP ministers Letpao Haokip and Nemcha Kipgen. The other signatories are Haokholet Kipgen, LM Khaute, Ngursanglur Sanate, Letzamang Haokip and Paolienlal Haokip from the BJP; and Kimneo Haokip Hangshing and Chinlunthang Haokip from the Kuki People’s Alliance, which extended support to the BJP for the formation of the government after last year’s Assembly polls.

Since the Manipur Assembly has 60 seats, these MLAs make up one-sixth of the strength. As 20 seats are from the hill areas – around 90% of the state’s geographical area – they also make up half of the state’s tribal MLAs.

“Our people can no longer exist under Manipur as the hatred against our tribal communities reached such a height that MLAs, ministers, pastors, police and civil officers, laymen, women and even children were not spared. Not to mention the destruction of places of worship, homes and properties. To live amidst the Meiteis again is as good as a death for our people,” the MLAs said in the statement.

Claiming that they are representing the sentiments of their people and endorsing their political aspiration of “separation from the state of Manipur”, they said: “As the state of Manipur has miserably failed to protect us, we seek of the Union of India, a separate administration under the Constitution of India and to live peacefully as neighbours with the state of Manipur.”

Asked about the nature of the separate administration they were demanding, minister Leitpao Haokip said that “it is up to the Union of India” whether it would be a separate state or a Union Territory. One of the MLAs said the next step they are planning is a meeting in Mizoram on May 16 with community leaders and civil society organisation leaders from their constituencies to draw them into the process of mobilising this demand.

In the meantime, Kuldiep Singh, Security Advisor to the CM, said on Friday that the number of reported deaths since the clashes began has risen to 71 with three more bodies recovered from a vehicle inside a ditch. He said “40 per cent” of these deaths have been verified to be an outcome of the clashes.

On Thursday, three Meitei villagers were abducted in Torbung Bangla in Bishnupur district. Singh said an operation is ongoing to rescue them. He also said efforts were on to bring back around 300 people who fled to Myanmar after the violence.