Manipur: ITLF opposes removal of illegal bunkers for better control of prevailing situation

ITLF said that the tribal people, the Kuki Zo community people do not trust Chief Minister N Biren Singh

The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) has strongly opposed the Manipur Government and the inter-agency Unified Command’s decision to destroy bunkers in both the valley and the hills in the state for better control of the prevailing situation in the state.

Adding that the bunkers are essential in protecting the Kuki-Zo tribal villages from raids, ITLF said that if the bunkers are removed it would make the Kuki-Zo tribal villages more vulnerable to attacks by miscreants.

Speaking to Northeast Live, Ginza Vualzong, spokesperson, ITLF media cell said, “Despite the central security forces standing and defending our boundaries there are incidents of attacks in our villages, so if the bunkers are removed from the village defence volunteer, our life and the security of our village will be at risk. So we do not recommend the removal of bunkers as of now unless strong security forces are deployed in the boundary areas.”

“Meitei settlements do not need bunkers because tribals do not attack them; but for tribals, bunkers are an essential part of their defense against unending raids,” ITLF said in a statement.

Vualzong also said that the tribal people, the Kuki Zo community people do not trust Chief Minister N Biren Singh and therefore they requested the central government not to put him as the leader of the security unifying command.

It may be mentioned here that CM N Biren Singh on Monday said that all bunkers illegally established up at both hill and valley areas would be pulled down and Army along with paramilitary forces would be set up at hilltops for better control of the prevailing situation in the state.

CM Biren Singh also said that drone surveys would also be conducted round the clock, with a central monitoring headquarters to monitor the situation and for reinforcement if necessary.

Manipur has been on the boil for over two months now since violence broke out in the state between two communities on May 3.

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