Committee of Tribal Unity (CoTU) urges Center to reimpose AFSPA

Imphal: A Manipur-based tribal organization – the Committee of Tribal Unity (COTU) has urged the central government to reimpose the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in the state’s Imphal Valley.
The CoTU submitted a memorandum to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, calling for cancellation of the Manipur government’s recent order on transfer and posting of police personnel due to “impracticability and impossibility”.
Additionally, the tribal organization has appealed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah to re-enforce AFSPA in 19 police stations in Manipur’s Imphal Valley.

The memorandum was conveyed to the Union Home Minister by the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Kangpokpi District, Manipur.

In the memorandum, Committee of Tribal Unity (CoTU) expressed concerns regarding the recent transfer and posting of police officers/personnel on February 14, particularly involving 108 Kuki-Zo police personnel.

The CoTU argued that amidst heightened ethnic tensions, such actions lack rationale and are unwarranted.

Furthermore, the CoTU highlighted that numerous high-ranking Kuki-Zo civil and police officers are unable to carry out their duties safely, rendering it impractical and unfeasible for the 108 police personnel to return to Imphal for duty.

Bringing attention to the ongoing sectarian conflict in Manipur, now in its tenth month, CoTU emphasized the need for immediate security measures.

They criticized the current priorities of the Manipur government, focusing on the recovery of looted arms and ammunition rather than addressing the root causes of the conflict, such as foreign involvement.

The CoTU advocated for the imposition of AFSPA in all 19 police stations in the Imphal Valley districts as a crucial step in recovering the looted arms and countering armed miscreants effectively.