“Jiribam is a crucial lifeline for Manipur railways and highway. Infrastructure and border control is important before going all out for separate administration," said top intelligence sources.
The continuous attack by Kukis on Jiribam is part of their larger plan to demand a separate administration, according to top intelligence sources. Jiribam is the district connecting railways, and the line has reached Khongsang village in Tamenglong district. The government even has plans to move it to Imphal and Moreh. The next gateway is Senapati district where Asian Highway is stretching up to Moreh, bypassing Pallel. The strategic highway also passes through several Kuki-dominated areas, including Kangpokpi. “Jiribam is a crucial lifeline for Manipur railways and highway. Infrastructure and border control is important before going all out for separate administration. They want to control railways and highways. The plan may stop at a separate set-up. The recent fresh indiscriminate firing by Kukis from the hills targeting Meitei settlements in Jiribam district is for a strategic reason,” said sources.
Moreh and Jiribam are border districts where Meiteis settled long ago. After the attack on Moreh, it was known that Kukis will attack Jiribam for a separate administrative set-up. Earlier, Kukis have captured the areas of Churachandpur and Pherzawl in the south. “All important gateways and highways are going to be controlled by the Kuki-Zo community. They also want to maintain a stranglehold on the valley and the Naga-dominated districts. Nagas are looking at their own benefits,” said sources. Kukis don’t support Nagas, and they voted for the Congress candidate instead of the Naga People’s Front (NPF) candidate in the Lok Sabha elections. NPF is the only political aspiration of Nagas, which is defeated by the game plan of Kukis, said sources. According to sources, Kukis are using sophisticated weapons in these areas which are used by them like trained warriors.
More than 200 people have been killed, and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and adjoining hills-based Kukis in Manipur since May 3 last year.
