NEW DELHI: Indian Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to hear within 24-48 hours a plea filed by the ‘Manipur Tribal Forum Delhi’ seeking army protection for Kuki tribals amid ethnic violence in Manipur.
Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves put the matter before the Vacation Bench that clashes and “killings” continue despite assurance made by the Manipur government in the apex court. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, for Manipur and the Union, while appearing in the court said that the security agencies were on the ground and doing their best.
The supreme court observed orally that it is a law and order problem and said that courts should not be told to direct deployment of the Army, etc.
The Kuki people are an ethnic group in the Northeastern Indian states of Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Assam, Tripura and Mizoram, as well as neighbouring countries of Myanmar and Bangladesh. The Kuki constitute one of several hill tribes within India, Myanmar and Bangladesh.
The NGO urged the top court not to rely on “empty assurances” given by the Modi government and sought Army protection for Kuki tribals. Over 100 people lost their lives in the violence between Kuki and Meitei communities in Manipur that broke out over a month back.
Clashes first broke out in Manipur on May 3 after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status.
Meiteis account for about 53 percent of Manipur’s population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals —Kukis and Nagas — constitute another 40 percent of the population and reside in the hill districts.
