Tensions have escalated in Manipur as villagers from several areas, including Thamnapokpi, Sanasabi, and Yaingangpokpi, staged demonstrations urging authorities not to withdraw central forces like the BSF and CRPF from the Uyok Hills.
The protests follow recent clashes between militants and security personnel in the region.
Villagers fear that the central forces stationed at Saibol village, near the border of Imphal East district, might be removed under pressure from certain groups. Demonstrators have been camping at the foothills of Uyok since Monday evening to express their concerns.
Protests over alleged police inaction
On January 3, the Superintendent of Police in Kangpokpi district was injured when a mob attacked his office. The attack was allegedly in response to his failure to remove central forces from Saibol.
Kuki organisations have also been protesting against a lathi charge on women by security forces in the area on December 31.
Mangi Leima, one of the demonstrators, said, "We heard unconfirmed reports that the central forces stationed in Uyok Hills might be moved. We are here to plead with the CRPF and BSF not to give in to pressure from Kuki groups. If the forces leave, armed miscreants might attack our villages again."
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History of violence in the region
Last month, gunfights erupted between suspected tribal militants and security personnel. Armed men fired from positions near Saibol village towards lower-lying villages, injuring four people, including a policeman. Following the attack, central forces dismantled illegal bunkers in Saibol to restore order.
Manipur has been grappling with ethnic clashes between the Kuki and Meitei communities since May 2023. The ongoing violence has claimed over 250 lives and displaced thousands, highlighting the volatile nature of Indian politics in the region.
The villagers' plea underscores their reliance on central forces to maintain peace in the conflict-ridden areas of Manipur.
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