Sun Nov 17 18:08:17 UTC 2024: ## Kuki-Zo Group Defies Manipur Government, Urges AFSPA Extension to Valley Districts

**Imphal, Manipur:** A major Kuki-Zo civil society organization, the Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU), has directly contradicted the Manipur government’s stance, urging the central government to extend the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) to all 13 remaining police stations in the state’s valley districts. This call comes in the wake of a recent Home Ministry notification extending AFSPA to six Imphal police stations from October 1, 2024.

COTU, however, simultaneously advocates for the withdrawal of AFSPA from the hill districts, citing sufficient military presence to maintain peace there. The group sharply criticized the government’s handling of the ongoing crisis, alleging a lack of sincerity and genuine effort to resolve the conflict.

The organization claims that unrest in Imphal Valley has been fueled by armed militants who allegedly coerced valley representatives into pledging allegiance at Kangla Fort earlier this year, undermining both state and central security forces. COTU also highlighted the looting of state armories, leading to widespread illegal firearm proliferation.

The group believes a balanced approach is crucial, prioritizing the application of AFSPA in volatile valley regions while acknowledging the relative stability in hill districts. They contend that the selective implementation of AFSPA demonstrates a lack of commitment to restoring normalcy and addressing the root causes of the conflict.

This statement follows a high-level security review by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who reportedly directed officials to implement all necessary measures to restore peace in Manipur. The state continues to experience volatility, with recent incidents including the discovery of six bodies, sparking further protests and violence. On Saturday, mobs torched the homes of three BJP MLAs, including a senior minister, and a Congress MLA, while security forces prevented an attack on the Chief Minister’s ancestral home. The ongoing crisis, marked by ethnic strife since May 2023, shows no immediate signs of abating.

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