Meeting with Union Home Minister fruitful : COTU
Amit Shah takes first hand account of Kpi folks
Source: The Sangai Express

Kangpokpi, May 31 2023: The Union Home Minister's visit to Kangpokpi and meeting with prominent leaders and intellectuals of the Kuki community was 'fruitful', Committee on Tribals Unity (COTU), Sadar Hills said today.

Nevertheless, the Committee said they felt crestfallen as a billow of smoke and cry of 'innocent' Kukis from the embers of some burnt villages in Changdai area under Saikul sub-division greeted the Union Home Minister.

The Union Home Minister Amit Shah landed in a chopper at Brig M Thomas Ground at around 2.12 pm and held a meeting with Kuki leaders for about two hours at 22 Assam Rifles post at Kangpokpi.

The Union Home Minister was welcomed by thousands with Tricolor flags in hands and a chant of "Amit Shahji Zindabad, Jai Mata Ki", etc while he stepped out of the chopper.

Meeting with Union Home Minister fruitful : COTU

On his way to the meeting venue, thousands of people formed a human chain to greet the Union Home Minister while some others held placards which read, "All our houses, villages, and Churches in the valley have been burnt down", "We have video proof of Manipur Government and Arambai Tenggol working together", "Our Schools have been burnt", "Armouries of Pangei MPTC, MRs and IRBs Battalion were not looted but were handed over without resistance", "CM is distorting facts, we demand President Rule", "Human Rights is violated by Biren Government", "This is State-sponsored ethnic cleansing", "Arambai Tenggol is an armed terrorist organization", etc.

The various civil society organizations, prominent Kuki leaders, and intellectuals led by the COTU participated in the meeting.

COTU also submitted a six-page memorandum to the Union Home Minister, terming the current violence in Manipur as springing from the highest level conspiracy.

COTU termed the almost two-hour-long meeting with the Union Home Minister fruitful and positive.

The Committee along with other civil society organizations and prominent leaders and intellectuals had a lengthy meeting again after the Union Home Minister's departure at around 4.05 pm.

The Committee spokesperson continued that the Union Home Minister, apart from deliberating on various important issues, assured to upgrade health care and education facilities in the district, provide essential aid etc.

Sitlhou, while expressing his concern over the escalating violence, appealed to the Home Minister to contain the violence.

Violence erupted in Kangpokpi district when the Union Home Minister was having a meeting with the Kuki leaders at Kangpokpi as more than four villages in the Chingdai Khullen area covering Zoulen, Chajang, Thingjang, Phailengkot, etc.

under Saikul Sub Division in Kangpokpi District were allegedly attacked and burnt down.

The Union Home Minister Amit Shah also visited one of the relief camps set up within Kangpokpi town and interacted with the displaced people before he left the town.