IMPHAL: The Indigenous Tribal Leader’s Forum (ITLF), a prominent tribal organisation in Manipur, has strongly criticised the state government’s directive regarding the submission of weapons ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
The recent order issued by the Manipur government, mandating the submission of weapons to jurisdictional police stations, has drawn condemnation from the ITLF, which deems the move unsuitable given the prevailing uncertainty.
In a statement, the ITLF voiced its concern, asserting that the Manipur government’s decision to link the prevailing situation solely with election-related matters and issue orders for weapon submission to arms license holders at police stations might exacerbate rather than alleviate the challenges faced by the community.
The forum argues that such a directive could potentially fuel controversy and heighten insecurity among the Kuki-Zo people in Manipur.
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Emphasizing the critical need for self-defence, the ITLF contends that every weapon is indispensable for safeguarding the community’s fundamental rights to life and land.
Highlighting past grievances, the ITLF recalled that licensed firearms submitted in 2023 have yet to be returned to their rightful owners.
“It is imperative to acknowledge our previous ordeal, as licensed guns submitted in 2023 have not been returned to us to this day,” stated the ITLF release.
Consequently, the ITLF urged every member of the Kuki-Zo community, including men, women, and village volunteers, to reject the directives issued by the administration.