Imphal : Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been urged not to remove Assam Rifles from the violence-hit Manipur. This was stated by the 10 MLAs of the Kuki-Zo-Hhar tribes in a memorandum submitted to the PMO on Thursday. In the memorandum signed by the 10 elected representatives of the Kuki-Zo-Hhar tribes, it is stated that removal of the AR from Manipur would harm and jeopardize the safety and security of the tribals.

These elected representatives are demanding a separate administration to be carved out from Manipur with the green signal from the central government. In the 60-member Manipur Legislative Assembly, there are 10 Kuki-Zo-Hmar tribal MLAs. The demand for this effect has come at a time when the Manipur state police have now started removing the AR posts from key areas and also started lodging false and fabricated FIRs against the AR to hinder/pressurize them from doing their duties.

The memorandum also urged the PM to control the state forces, curtail their powers and give direction to not violate the buffer zones manned by the central paramilitary forces for the restoration of peace in the state in the public interest. Since the outbreak of ethnic strife in Manipur on May 3, 2023, the unabated violence has led to deep mistrust between the Kuki-Zo-Hmar tribals and Meitei communities which has been reflected in the splitting of local state administration and law enforcing agencies too, the elected representatives state, it added. In the communal clashes between the two communities, over 160 individuals lost their lives so far.