The apex bodies of Kuki, Zomi and Naga tribes in Manipur on September 28 strongly objected to the Manipur government’s notification extending the operation of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act for six months only in the hill districts of the State.
The steering committee of the Zomi Council (apex body for Zomi tribes in Manipur) said it had shot off a memorandum to the Union Home Minister on Thursday highlighting the “partisan mindset” and “discriminatory policies” of the Manipur government. The Kuki Inpi (apex body of Kuki tribes) and the United Naga Council (apex body of Naga tribes) both questioned the notification exempting valley regions from AFSPA. They termed the move “oppressive” and “biased”.
The Hindu had reported on Thursday that the Indian Army had recommended the extension of AFSPA in the valley regions saying the absence of it was hindering operations against insurgent groups — ones that have regained a foothold during the ongoing ethnic conflict after a lull of many years. These secessionist groups mostly operate from Myanmar.
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