Bodies demand adequate security to Meetei villages
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, May 16 2023:
United Mothers Or-ganisation (UMO) has de-manded the government to deploy adequate number of security personnel in Meetei villages adjoining Kuki-pop-ulated areas so as to secure the life of the people.
Speaking to media persons at the Wangkhei Ningth-em Pukhri Mapal office of Federation of Civil Society Organisation (FOCS) on Monday, UMO president M Sorojini recounted that several unwanted incidents have occurred since May 3 due to ethnic clash between two communities.
Meetei villages close to Kuki dom-inated areas continued to be attacked by armed Kuki militants and there are sev-eral incidents of firing on Meetei villages, the presi-dent pointed out to validate the demand for adequate security forces.
She further demanded deployment of security per-sonnel despatched by the central government in such areas to serve the real pur-pose which is to protect the people.
In case the govern-ment cannot safeguard the civilian population then they should be issued licenced firearms to protect them-selves, Sorojini maintained.
Joining the media briefing, Manipur Keithel Nupi Marup secretary Laishram Mema condemned the demand of 10 Kuki MLAs for separate administration and sug-gested the said MLA should contribute towards unity of Manipur if they are state's bonafide citizens.
Meanwhile, FOCS worn-en's affairs secretary Dimona conveyed that Meiteis living near Kuki villages are facing tremendous inconvenienc-es.
Instead of demanding edibles, they are asking for firearms so as to save their lives, she conveyed, while exhorting the government to ensure adequate security to the aggrieved people.
Nongshum Village De-velopment Committee also urged the government to deploy adequate state or central forces at Nongshum village, located adjacent to Kuki villages.
Addressing a press meet held at the village on Tues-day, Committee president Konjengbam Ibungobi in-formed that the village was attacked by Kukis multiple times some years ago, re-sulting in unwanted inci-dents.
At present, suspected Kuki militants under So0 have been putting up bun-kers near the village and patrolling, instilling fear amongst the villagers.
As such, the villagers of Nongshum have armed themselves with license guns to defend the village.
But as the villagers alone can-not guarantee full security, 1-2 teams of Manipur police have been guarding the area, while central forces show up occasionally.
Thus, he urged the government to take note of the matter and provide adequate security and calm the minds of the villagers.