In response Biren Singh,Mizo student body warns of Meitei ouster

Aizawl: The Mizo Students’ Union (MSU), a prominent student body in Mizoram, issued a stern warning on Monday, threatening to expel all Meitei people residing in Mizoram to Manipur if any Mizos or Zo ethnic individuals in Manipur are deported to Mizoram.

The statement comes in response to Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh‘s recent declaration that his government would “identify and deport” individuals who settled in the state after 1961.

MSU President Samuel Zoramthanpuia revealed that an emergency meeting was convened on Tuesday to address Singh’s statement and discuss its potential impact on the Zo ethnic community in Manipur.

Following the meeting, the organisation declared its intent to deport all Meiteis living in Mizoram to Manipur if the Manipur government proceeds with the deportation of any Mizo or Kuki Zo ethnic people to Mizoram, according to an MSU official.

Zoramthanpuia asserted that the MSU has compiled a comprehensive list of all Meitei individuals residing in Mizoram.

The warning from the student body adds another layer of tension to the already volatile situation in the region.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s recent remarks about identifying and deporting individuals who settled in the state after 1961 have contributed to escalating tensions.

The northeastern state has been grappling with ethnic clashes, particularly between the majority Meiteis dominating the valley and the minority Kuki-Zo tribes residing in the hills since May of the previous year.

The Manipur government has consistently linked the ongoing ethnic strife to what it terms “illegal immigration” from neighboring Myanmar.