Aizawl: Mizoram government Saturday urged residents to exercise “extreme caution” after the recent turn of events in neighbouring Manipur that resulted in loss of lives for both the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities engaged in conflict, which has intensified in the past week.
A statement issued by the Mizoram home department Saturday urged residents to refrain from any action that may instigate communal incidents within the state. “The Government of Mizoram requests everyone to refrain from actions which can instigate communal incidents within Mizoram in connection with the recent Manipur conflict,” it read.
Placating the fears of those from the Meitei community taking shelter in Mizoram, the state government announced that it would continue to take steps to ensure the safety and security of both local residents and those from outside the state.
“The government will continue to take steps to ensure the safety and security of people from outside the state, in particular those from the state of Manipur. Similarly, the government will continue to take steps for the safety of Mizos living outside Mizoram, especially students and workers in Manipur,” the statement further read.
This follows the recent threats issued to Meitei residents in Mizoram by a lesser known organisation called the Mizo Defence League (MDL). The warning was allegedly issued by MDL leader Raphael Lalrinmawia during a protest programme organised by the group in Aizawl Friday evening. At the event, caution was sounded to all Meiteis living in Mizoram, and they were asked to leave the state “within the month of November”.
Speaking to ThePrint Saturday, Mizoram Home Minister K. Sapdanga said the state police would prosecute anyone who uses hate speech in public. He also stated that some protesters used “hate speech” threatening Meitei residents in Mizoram during Friday’s event. He further mentioned that a criminal case will be registered against Lalrinmawia.
Hundreds had gathered for the candlelight vigil organised by MDL to express grief and outrage over the killing of 10 individuals belonging to the Hmar-Mizo community in Manipur’s Jiribam district near the Assam border Monday. The armed Hmar men were killed in a “retaliatory attack” by security forces after violence broke out in Jakuradhor Karong area of Jiribam.
Protesters also shouted slogans condemning the killing of Hmar woman—a teacher and a mother of three—at Zairawn village near Jiribam town on 7 November. She was allegedly raped and burnt to death.
According to sources, some Meitei residents are preparing to leave Aizawl for Manipur in the coming days, while others have decided to stay after assurances by the government as well as civil society organisations including the Young Mizo Association (YMA) and the Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP). The MZP urged the Mizoram government to consider the safety of Meitei people in the state and also reportedly advised the public to remain vigilant.
In a statement issued Saturday, the MZP also demanded the Centre to take measures for the safety of Mizo students in Imphal.
The All Mizoram Manipuri Association had also held a meeting with the YMA, the state home minister and state police officials over the incident. Sources said they were assured of safety and police deployment in sensitive zones.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
Also Read: Role of insurgent Hmar group under security lens after recovery of 3 bodies in Manipur’s Jiribram
The Mizo Defence League is an anti-India secessionist organization. The Union Home Ministry must declare it a terrorist organization at the earliest. The Indian security agencies must be given full authority to deal with these extremists.
There are several other Mizo organizations which are openly anti-India and have a secessionist agenda. A close watch must be kept on all these organizations.