Even as fingers pointed at 'radical Meitei groups'...COTU says, will consider opening highway
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 03 2023: The Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) has stated that they would consider opening Imphal-Dimapur highway for some specific days.

The said highway has been blocked ever since Manipur went up in flames from the evening of May 3 .

Talking to The Sangai Express over telephone, COTU general secretary Lamilun Singsit claimed that the Kukis have adopted a defensive posture since Union Home Minister Amit Shah left the State.

Claiming that the Kukis did not undertake any offensive, Lamilun Singsit said that the Kukis feel very bad about the continuous attacks allegedly carried out by radical Meitei groups and Arambai volunteers against the Kukis.

He said that a joint meeting of all village leaders and the common people would be convened soon to deliberate on the Union Home Minister's assurance and also his (Amit Shah) appeal to lift the highway blockade for some days.

Even as fingers pointed at 'radical Meitei groups'...COTU says, will consider opening highway

If the village leaders and the people are agreeable to opening the highway, the highway would be opened for some days, Lamilun Singsit said.

If the highway is opened even for some days, it should be understood that it is only because of Amit Shah's request, he asserted.

"When Amit Shah requested for restoration of peace, we said, yes.

We also told him that we are a peace-loving community", the COTU general secretary said.

When the Union Home Minister suggested to give safe passage to the stranded trucks carrying essential commodities as a goodwill gesture, the COTU replied positively, he said.

"Even though we, leaders, have accepted the Union Home Minister's request, we alone cannot take the final decision", Lamilun Singsit said.

The COTU and the Naga People's Organisation (held a meeting at Senapati yesterday at the invitation of the latter, he said.

"You must be suffering a lot on account of the crisis but we cannot help you physically so far although all of us are tribals.

Nonetheless, we will see that essential commodities are available.

Let's all work together to avoid misunder- standings", the NPO leaders told the COTU delegates, according to Lamilun Singsit.

Lamilun said that all these points were incorporated in the decisions adopted at the meeting.

"It is being ensured that shops at Senapati Bazar do not hike prices of essential commodities in the interest of your people and efforts are being made to ensure that essential commodities are available round the clock", the NPO leaders reportedly told the COTU delegates, according to Lamilun Singsit.