Manipur govt bans Kuki tribal outfit speaking about 'possible war', arms procurement

"In view of Tuesday’s incident leading to the killing of a senior police officer, the Cabinet therefore approved the recommendation for declaration of the WKZIC as an unlawful association/organization under section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967," an official statement said in Imphal. 

Soon after the killing of a Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) by suspected militants, the Manipur government on Tuesday banned the World Kuki-Zo Intellectual Council (WKZIC), as an unlawful association/organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

Police said that the suspected militants on Tuesday gunned down SDPO Chingtham Anand Kumar at Moreh in Manipur’s Tengnoupal district bordering Myanmar.

The suspected extremists attacked a police team when they were supervising the proposed construction site of a helipad at the Eastern Shine School ground at Moreh, injuring the SDPO, who was immediately taken to a primary health centre, where he succumbed to his bullet wounds.

Immediately after the incident, an urgent meeting of the cabinet, chaired by the Chief Minister, was held.

An official statement after the meeting said that the cabinet noted that the WKZIC had issued a press release on October 24 calling upon the Kuki-Zo community that during this November, before the harvesting season, the community would face another war, and arms and ammunition should therefore be in sufficient stock.

"It further informed that the youth volunteers would be the ones going to face the war on the frontlines, and that its national army/UG (Underground Groups) would join the youth volunteers only in critical situations, citing that this would be because Kuki National Army/UG groups would not be able to join the war freely in view of SOO agreement. It further informed that its national volunteers shall be equipped with the best arms and if required, ammunition will be supplied without limit," the statement said quoting the WKZIC press release.

An FIR has already been lodged against the organisation on Monday.

"In view of Tuesday’s incident leading to the killing of a senior police officer, the Cabinet therefore approved the recommendation for declaration of the WKZIC as an unlawful association/organization under section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967," the statement said.

Churachandpur Police Station has registered an FIR against the the World-Kuki Zo Intellectual Council (WKZIC) for exhorting Kuki-Zo CSOs to prepare to stock arms, ammunition including bombs for an “coming war.”

The FIR registered by the OC in charge of Churachandpur Police Station stated about the release issued WKZIC, based in Songpi, Churachandpur which exhorted the ITLF Defense wing, Zo United, COTU defense and four Inpis that a “war is coming and to prepare to stock arms/amms including bombs as the SoO groups are not in a position to participate in the war.”

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Although the release issued by WKZIC does not mention any community, it is liable to promote enmity between different community and also is a mischief with intent to cause fear or alarm to the public which could induce someone to commit an offence against the state or against public tranquility, it observed. 

The release is also likely to cause threat or injury to public servants, criminal intimidation and exposes conspiracy to cause Acts by explosive substances.

Hence, a Suo motu case under FIR NO.2824(10)2023 CCP-PS u/s 120 B/153A-/189/505(1)(b)/506 IPC, 4 Expl Subs Act and 18 UA(P) Act has been registered for investigation against the leaders of WKZIC, it mentioned. 

It may be mentioned that Commissioner (Home), Government of Manipur T Ranjit had written to the Director General of Police, Manipur, expressing grave concern over the press release issued by  WKZIC and urged to take up necessary preventive and precautionary measures along with a robust response mechanism in place.