Imphal: The situation in southern Manipur’s Churachandpur remained tense as “miscreants” torched the place where Chief Minister N Biren Singh is scheduled to address a meeting on Friday. A police official said late on Thursday night that the Chief Minister was scheduled to visit the hill district on Friday and chairs and other material were set on fire at the venue. Senior police officers along with additional force have reached the spot to control the situation.
Bandh in Churachandpur
Meanwhile, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) has called for an eight-hour bandh from 8 am on Friday in Churachandpur district to protest against the state government’s eviction drive from protected and reserved forests.
ITLF said in a statement that they had submitted several memorandums to the state government expressing their grievances and apprehensions regarding the survey and eviction of villagers related to reserve forests and protected forests, wetlands and wildlife. On 10 March, tribals organized protest rallies against the state government in three districts, which were reportedly also supported by Kuki militants.
Opposition to government’s action on opium cultivation
Peaceful protests turned violent in three districts – Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and Tengnoupal, in which five people were injured in these incidents. Protests were organized against the state government’s crackdown on opium cultivation and encroachment on forest land. The state government earlier this month demolished three churches in Manipur saying that the churches were “illegal constructions”.
Following the events of 10 March, the Manipur government unilaterally withdrew from the Tripartite Talks and Suspension of Operations (SOO) signed with three Kuki insurgent organizations – the Kuki National Army (KNA), the Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA) and the Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA). separated himself. ) – even though the Union Home Ministry has not yet given its nod to the state government’s decision.
It was also reported that cadres of the KNA, ZRA and KRA are inciting opium cultivators in the state against the government, which is cracking down on illegal opium cultivators, and destroying opium farms in forest land. doing, especially in reserved and protected forests. However, an umbrella organization of Kuki organizations has rejected the allegations.
The hilly and forested Churachandpur district in southern Manipur, which borders Myanmar and Mizoram, is home to various Kuki-Chin militant groups. The Center and the Government of Manipur signed a Tripartite Agreement and SoO with the three insurgent organizations on 22 August 2008.