Kuki Inpi, the apex body of the Kuki community, stated that the MMG is a highly sophisticated weapon typically used in war preparations and is rarely deployed by the Army or Assam Rifles in counter-insurgency operations.
Kuki groups in Manipur have raised concerns about the procurement of sophisticated Medium Machine Guns (MMGs) by the state police, fearing their potential use against the community. The Kuki Inpi, an apex body of the Kuki community, highlighted that MMGs are advanced weapons typically reserved for wartime and rarely used even in counter-insurgency operations by the Army and Assam Rifles.
In a statement, Kuki Inpi’s publicity secretary, Janghaolun Haokip, said, “The attempt to deploy these sophisticated weapons has caused confusion and anxiety among the public, raising concerns about the state government’s intentions amid the ongoing ethnic conflict.”
These concerns come after reports that the Manipur police procured 7.62mm MMG MK 2A1 machine guns from Ordnance Factory Jabalpur and sought army assistance to train personnel in their use. The urgency for training reportedly followed two drone bomb attacks allegedly carried out by Kuki insurgents in Meitei-dominated areas. Kuki organizations, however, have denied the use of drones.
The police also accused Kuki insurgents of using a rocket to attack a Meitei village in Moirang, Bishnupur district. Tensions have escalated, leading to police combing operations in areas between Meitei and Kuki-dominated regions after recent clashes resulted in the deaths of at least 10 people since September 1.
Kuki Inpi warned that the introduction of such lethal weaponry could worsen the situation for the Kuki-Zo communities, who are already suffering from coordinated attacks by militias and state forces. The organization urged the central government to intervene and reconsider the use of advanced weaponry in the internal conflict.
The ongoing ethnic conflict between the Meiteis and the Kukis has claimed at least 236 lives and displaced over 60,000 people since May last year, with sporadic violence continuing despite the presence of central forces, including the army.
