Condemnation of Peasants’ Murder and Poisoning of Water in Manipur
Ref. No.: 20240112 PR
Press Release
Friday, January 12, 2024
Meitei Alliance strongly condemns the beastly crimes of murdering four innocent peasants by suspected Kuki terrorists and the poisoning of water in Manipur (India) by unknown people on January 10, 2024.
According to news reports from both local and national media and other verifiable sources, on January 10, 2024, suspected Kuki terrorists rounded up, looted, and murdered four peasants from Kumbi Assembly Constituency while they were on a nearby hill to collect firewood. Later, aerial video footage has emerged that shows that these peasants were being tracked using state of the art drones, which points to these murders being premeditated and carried out in cold blood.
Also on the same day, there has been an incident of contamination of river/stream water flowing down into Imphal valley from the hilly area in Saitu Assembly constituency heavily populated by the Kuki community. In this regard, a first information report (FIR) has also been filed against unknown people. The needle of suspicion currently points to the Kuki terrorists active in this area. News reports point to a defunct heavy-oil power station in Manipur’s Leimakhong area to be the source of the contaminant that was released into the stream. Here, it must be pointed out that rivers and lakes of Manipur, including the famous Ramsar wetland – Loktak lake, depend on such streams as the source of water.
It is thus credible to believe that these heinous crimes are an integral part of the Kuki’s offensive terrorism since May 3, 2023, which has been aimed at discouraging and obstructing the drive to (a) prevent illegal immigration, (b) detect foreigners, (c) destroy illicit poppy plantation and drug business, (d) evict land encroachers, and (e) protect forests and environment. In the last eight months, Kuki terrorists, having fully armed with sophisticated arms and ammunitions funded by profit from illicit drug business, have been targeting indigenous Meitei to occupy land and extend the infamous (drug) Golden Triangle into Manipur. They have killed and injured several hundreds, displaced several thousands, and plundered and targeted vulnerable peasants. These are repetition of what they have perpetrated with disastrous impacts on the Naga (1992-97), Tamils (1995), Paite (1997), Karbi (2003-4), etc. The latest incidents reconfirm that Kuki terrorists are perpetrating crimes against humanity. Going beyond forest encroachment and destruction (for illegal settlements and poppy farming), they have become the enemy of the eco-system by attacking water and the lives that are dependent on it.
What is additionally concerning is that the likely perpetrators of these crimes, Kuki terrorist groups, continue to enjoy the benefits of the Suspension of Operation signed with the Government of India since 2008 – including protection and monthly pay. Taking advantage of such favour, they are unleashing a reign of terror at the cost of the indigenous people of Manipur. For instance, the ill-fated Leimakhong power plant is located very close to the cantonment of the Indian Army’s 57th Mountain Division.
Unfortunately, the modus operandi of the Kuki terrorists, the nature and gravity of their crimes, and its disastrous impacts on the indigenous people and eco-system have been covered up by a section of irresponsible media and illegally funded/yellow journalists. We condemn this and urge upon the national media to reveal the atrocities carried out by the Kuki terrorists to the larger public.
Media Coordinator, Meitei Alliance