Kangpokpi:    The Kuki-Zo community in Twilang, Kangpokpi, staged a large sit-in protest on Tuesday, as hundreds of women gathered to protest the recent withdrawal of the 22 Assam Rifles (AR) post from Banglabung Gelnal village.

The demonstrators, representing multiple villages, voiced their concerns about the increased security risks due to the removal of the post. They chanted slogans demanding the post’s immediate reinstatement and submitted a memorandum to the Post Commander of the 22 Assam Rifles, requesting it be forwarded to the Commanding Officer.

The memorandum stressed the crucial role the Assam Rifles have played in ensuring security and stability in the region, especially since the start of communal violence in Manipur. It noted the force’s efforts in safely evacuating over 60,000 Kuki-Zo civilians from the Imphal Valley and tens of thousands of Meitei civilians from Kuki-Zo areas. The community commended the Assam Rifles for their neutral and unbiased approach, which has been key to maintaining peace.

The protest also raised concerns about demands from Meitei civil society groups, particularly the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), to replace the Assam Rifles with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). The Kuki-Zo community fears that such a change could heighten tensions and destabilize the region further. The memorandum argued that replacing the Assam Rifles could undermine trust in both state and central governments and might reignite violence in the already unstable area.

The protest ended with a strong appeal for the Assam Rifles to remain in Kuki-Zo areas. The community committed to cooperating fully to keep the region secure. KSO Twilang Lhang President Enock Kipgen also addressed the gathering, reinforcing the need for continued security in the region.