Tue Nov 12 17:25:42 UTC 2024: ## Kuki Tribes Accuse CRPF of “Barbaric Actions” After 10 Killed in Manipur

**Jiribam, Manipur:** Tensions escalated in Manipur’s Jiribam district after the deaths of 10 Kuki men, leading to widespread protests and accusations of brutality against the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Kuki civil society groups and student organizations claim the men, who were allegedly village volunteers, were treacherously murdered by CRPF personnel in collusion with the Manipur Police and armed groups.

The police, however, maintain that the incident involved an attack on a CRPF post and police station by armed militants, resulting in a gunfight that lasted 45 minutes. They claim to have recovered weapons, including assault rifles and a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, from the scene.

Despite the police’s account, Kuki groups, including the Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO), Zomi Students’ Federation, Hmar Students’ Association, Thadou Youth Association, and Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights, have condemned the CRPF actions and called for a thorough investigation.

Hundreds of Kuki community members gathered in Delhi and across Manipur to protest against the alleged atrocities. The KSO has even issued a directive prohibiting CRPF personnel from leaving their camps in Kuki-dominated areas.

“We are aware of what we have said in the statement; it is out of desperation,” said a senior KSO member. “Who is listening to us? We are not endorsing violence. But we feel helpless. The central forces are supposed to be neutral.”

The Kuki tribes have long expressed concern about the perceived bias of security forces operating in Manipur, with the Meitei community alleging that the Assam Rifles favor Kuki militants due to a ceasefire agreement. The recent shift of two Assam Rifles battalions to Jammu and Kashmir, replaced by the CRPF, has further fueled anxieties within the Kuki community.

The ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur, which began in May 2023, has been fueled by long-standing grievances over land rights, political representation, and other issues. The latest incident in Jiribam is likely to further exacerbate tensions between the Kuki and Meitei communities.

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