IMPHAL, India, Sept 21 (Askume) – India’s northeastern state of Manipur has been put on high alert, a senior security official said on Friday, following intelligence reports that up to 900 suspected Kuki militants may arrive from Myanmar.
However, a group representing the Kutch community refuted the security officer’s allegations and demanded his resignation.
Manipur Security Advisor Kuldeep Singh told reporters that information about the militants has been shared with various intelligence agencies.
Since May 2023, Manipur has been embroiled in violent clashes between the majority Meitei and minority Kuki communities over disputes over economic interests and quotas.
“Border police have been alerted and search operations are on,” he said, adding that the hilly region where the Kuki tribe lives is under strict surveillance.
The Kuki Students Organisation (KSO), the main organisation representing the community in the state, denied the arrival of Kuki militants from Myanmar and accused security advisers of spreading misinformation about the community and failing to ensure their safety.
“We no longer feel safe under his leadership … and we would like to demand his resignation,” the KSO said in a statement.
The Kuki people living in southern Manipur have ethnic links with the Chin ethnic group of Myanmar.
The latest intelligence comes after reports of explosive-laden drone attacks, which officials say were carried out by Kuki militants. Kuki representatives denied that the attacks were carried out by people from their community.
In response to the attack, Thai protesters held a large rally in Imphal, demanding action against Kuja militants.
Despite efforts to calm the unrest, sporadic clashes continue, with the latest violence earlier this month leaving 11 people dead. Since May last year, at least 237 people have been killed and over 60,000 displaced in clashes in Manipur, a state of 3.2 million people.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has repeatedly blamed the violence on the influx of refugees following Myanmar’s 2021 military coup .
Last year, the government scrapped a long-standing policy that allowed visa-free movement across the 1,650-km (1,000-mile) border and had planned to spend 310 billion rupees ($3.71 billion) to build it.
Kuki groups have criticised the measures because of cross-border ties.
Manipur is divided into two ethnic regions, the valley controlled by the Meitei and the hills controlled by the Kukis, separated by desolate land patrolled by federal paramilitary forces.
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