Aizawl: The Kuki Students’ Organisation, General Headquarters (KSO-GHQ), has expressed deep concern and bewilderment over recent statements made by Chief Minister N Biren Singh in an interview with The Print.
The organisation accused the Chief Minister of disseminating falsehoods and hate speech, calling into question his competence in governing the state.
In the interview, Singh attempted to justify the actions of the Arambai Tenggol group amid the ongoing conflict in Manipur. He stated, “They [Arambai Tenggol] are not anti-national. I have already clarified that they acted emotionally when militants attacked their homes with AK-47 assault rifles. They are now roaming around defending themselves with sticks. There is still time to pacify them, and I am trying to do so.” Singh added that their main concern is the safety of all indigenous people of the state and preserving its territorial integrity. He suggested that if the government could fully protect people’s lives and property, the group’s relevance would diminish automatically.
KSO-GHQ found these statements particularly troubling, alleging that Singh’s comments reveal a bias against the minority Kuki-Zo tribal population. The organization accused the Arambai Tenggol of being involved in violent actions against the Kuki community since May 3, 2023, and accused Singh and Rajya Sabha MP L. Sanajaoba of having ties with the group.
The organisation highlighted an incident on November 1, 2023, when the self-styled Chief Commander of Arambai Tenggol, Korounganba Khuman, was allegedly seen in Imphal with illegal automatic rifles, inciting violence against Kuki-Zo tribals. Despite police intervention, the group reportedly fired at officers and continued their activities. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has registered a case against Khuman, but the KSO-GHQ claims the Chief Minister has ignored these actions.
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Additionally, the KSO-GHQ criticised Singh’s remarks about the UNLF (Pambai Group), refuting his claim that the group is not involved in anti-national or anti-social activities. The organization accused the UNLF-P of openly carrying arms and attacking villages, despite a ceasefire agreement with the Union and state governments.
The KSO-GHQ also pointed to an alleged alliance between the UNLF-P and Meitei militia groups, including Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun, aimed at targeting the Kuki-Zo tribal communities.
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