Manipur Naga MLAs demand action against Deputy CM over Kuki militant links

Nine Naga legislators in Manipur, including Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho, have formally asked the Centre to take punitive action against fellow Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen for allegedly colluding with a Kuki insurgent group linked to the killing of Naga civilians.

In a letter hand-delivered to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday, the legislators also threatened to withdraw support to the BJP-led state government if no action is taken against Ms. Kipgen and leaders of Kuki-Zo extremist groups.

The signatories include five MLAs from the Naga People's Front (NPF), two from the BJP, one from the National People's Party, and one Independent.

The letter demands the arrest of Kuki-Zo leaders who publicly claimed responsibility for the killing and dismemberment of six Naga civilians. The mutilated bodies of the victims were recovered on June 10, nearly a month after they were abducted.

The MLAs also sought the arrest of Thangboi Kipgen, chief of the Kuki National Front (Presidential) faction and husband of Ms. Kipgen. The letter alleges that Ms. Kipgen's office is "colluding" with the militant group led by her husband.

Further, the legislators have demanded the immediate abrogation of the Suspension of Operations agreement signed between the Centre and 25 Kuki-Zo rebel groups in 2008, citing repeated violations and acts of terror against civilians.

Referring to the killing of four more Naga men in an ambush on August 27, the MLAs warned that they would be unable to defend their continued support to the government if action is not initiated. They said the step was being taken in the larger interest of the people of Manipur.

Manipur has 10 Naga MLAs. One of them, N. Kayisii of the NPP, died in January this year.