Manipur Violence: Apex Tribal Body Urges Amit Shah To Facilitate Burial Of Victims Of Clashes

ITLF spokesperson Ginza Vualzong said that a state industry department plot at the government sericulture farm may be allocated for burying the victims' remains.

A delegation from the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), an apex body of recognized tribes in Manipur, met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi late on Wednesday. The ITLF delegation met the Home Minister, appealing for an amicable resolution to the issue of burying the victims who had died in the ethnic clashes in Manipur.

On Saturday, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had invited the ITLF for talks as fresh violence erupted in the state following the indigenous organisation's announcement of a plan to hold a mass burial for the victims. However, the burial plan was postponed by a week on August 3 after the Manipur High Court ordered the maintenance of the status quo at the proposed burial site in Churachandpur district.

ITLF spokesperson Ginza Vualzong stated after the meeting, "At the ITLF leaders' request, the land owned by the state industry department at the government sericulture farm may be allocated for burying the victims' remains. Home Minister Shah assured us that the land would be used only for a common public purpose in consultation with us and other stakeholders."

"Home Minister Shah requested us not to insist on carrying out the burial program at the same venue within the conflict zone. Instead, he suggested identifying an alternate location in consultation with the Churachandpur deputy commissioner and conducting the burial at the earliest," Vualzong stated.

"In light of the Home Minister's request, we will finalize an alternate location in consultation with the people. Taking note of the safety concerns of the hill district inhabitants, Shah assured us that the deployment of Central Armed Paramilitary Forces (CAPF) in the state will be reinforced to secure vulnerable areas. The state police force will operate under the guidance of the Manipur security advisor and in conjunction with the CAPF in the hill districts," Vualzong added.

"The Home Minister also assured that necessary arrangements will be made to facilitate the transportation and identification of the victims' bodies to their respective hometowns in the state capital, Imphal. Shah also assured us of facilitating the early initiation of helicopter services for residents of Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, and Moreh districts to their preferred destinations," Vualzong further stated.

"Given the difficulties faced by the student community in the hill districts, Shah assured us that necessary steps will be taken to allow them to enrol in colleges and transfer to universities outside the state. Student facilitation centres of Manipur University will also be opened in Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts. Additionally, Shah assured that the condition of prison inmates will be regularly monitored, and a separate office for the Justice Lamba inquiry commission will be established in Churachandpur district," Vualzong elaborated.

"Shah urged us to cooperate and support the early disposal of the victims, the construction of houses for displaced people, and the restoration of peace in the state to enable progress in the peace talks aimed at resolving the long-term issues of the Kuki-Zo community," he added.

Meanwhile, tensions and reports of sporadic incidents of violence continued to be reported from across the trouble-torn state. On Wednesday, a 37-year-old married woman from Churachandpur district alleged that she was gang-raped by a group of unidentified miscreants while fleeing her burning house with two sons, niece, and sister-in-law on May 3, the day violence erupted in the district.

A First Information Report (FIR) has been filed against unknown miscreants at the Bishnupur police station under sections 376-D, 354, and 120-B/34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which pertain to gang rape, assault or criminal force to women with the intent to outrage her modesty, and criminal conspiracy with common intention. However, the case has been transferred to the Churachandpur police, as the place of occurrence falls under their jurisdiction.

Security forces are on high alert in the vulnerable areas of the state to prevent any untoward incidents.

Since the ethnic clashes broke out in Manipur on May 3 after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organized in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, over 160 people have lost their lives, and several hundred have been injured.