Imphal:
Leaders of the Meitei and the Meitei Pangal (Muslim) communities in Manipur held a gathering as we speak to defuse rigidity following an assault on a Meitei Pangal youth by the Arambai Tenggol (AT).
Rajya Sabha MP Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba in a press release mentioned he met leaders of each the communities, who agreed “the culprits must be punished as per legislation”.
A Meitei Pangal chief from Kwakta, 50 km from the state capital Imphal, informed reporters that some AT members assaulted a Meitei Pangal youth and allegedly damage non secular sentiments.
“At this time is January 5. If the Arambai Tenggol doesn’t apologise and make clear by January 7, we’ll work with all CSOs [civil society organisations] and begin a large agitation and contemplate taking different steps for justice,” the Meitei Pangal chief informed reporters.
The Meitei Pangal group in Kwakta, an space between Churachandpur and Bishnupur, have been caught in the crossfire between the Kuki tribes and the Meitei group.
In a put up on X, the Rajya Sabha MP from Manipur mentioned the assembly of leaders from each the communities agreed on three factors – preserve peaceable co-existence, punish the culprits, and keep away from hate speech geared toward creating communal hassle.
Additionally they determined to ask the cyber crime division to search for troublemakers on social media and catch them.
“In reference to a latest growth of bewilderment and false impression between Meitei and Meitei Pangal communities, I’ve a fruitful session with leaders of each the communities at Sana Konung as we speak (sixth January, 2025),” Mr Leishemba mentioned within the put up on X.
“… Resolved that each the communities ought to proceed to keep up age-old peaceable co-existence which have been persevering with for the final so a few years. We must always respect one another’s social ethics and spiritual practices additionally,” he mentioned. “As a well-wisher of Manipur I earnestly enchantment to every body Manipuris to not take up any motion opposite to the ethics of peaceable co-existence within the state.”
Held a fruitful session as we speak with the leaders of Meitei & Meitei Pangal and earnestly enchantment to all to not take up any motion opposite to the ethics of Peaceable co- existence within the state. pic.twitter.com/Oiz9qAbd34
— Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba. (@MaharajaManipur) January 6, 2025
Members of the AT name themselves “village defence volunteers”, in response to comparable teams of the Kuki tribes with whom the Meiteis have been engaged in clashes since Could 2023. Each side face allegations of atrocities.
The Nationwide Investigation Company is trying into two instances linked to AT chief Korounganba Khuman.
The Manipur Police in March warned the AT after the group attacked the home of a senior police officer. The police had mentioned the AT was “engaged in lots of anti-social actions akin to assaulting civilians, and snatching automobiles from the general public and authorities officers.”
The police have usually shared info on X about arrests of AT members for alleged extortion.
Within the early days of the ethnic clashes after Could 3, 2023, Korounganba Khuman was seen in visuals strolling with a bamboo stick, whereas within the distance smoke was seen rising from a village behind a treeline. AT members say they had been compelled to take up arms quickly after Could 3, 2023 because of assaults allegedly by closely armed Kuki militants within the foothills and within the absence of efficient law-and-order enforcement.