Forced peace not viable: COTU
Source: The Sangai Express
Kangpokpi, May 20 2023:
No sign of peace or normalcy is yet to be witnessed in Kangpokpi district as a commotion broke out again today along National Highway-2 at Saparmeina, around 15 Kms away from the district headquarters towards Imphal.
The incident reportedly occurred at around 4 pm when security forces led by Kangpokpi SP Manoj Prabhakar, IPS in the pres ence of Kangpokpi District Magistrate, Mukesh Hirahil Chaudhari, IAS proposed to visit villages within Kangpokpi district.
Hundreds of volunteers in no time congregated along the National Highway at Saparmeina and blocked the highway and even restricted the officials to return to Kangpokpi after meeting with the Committee on Tribals Unity or COTU, Sadar Hills at Gamnom Saparmeina Police Station.
However, the COTU leaders calmed down the tense situation and let the officials go.
Meanwhile, an attempt to take a few loaded trucks to Imphal at around 5.30 pm almost flared up a tense situation had not the Assam Rifles and Kangpokpi police intervened.
Later in the evening, the COTU, Sadar Hills spokesperson, K Sitlhou while speaking to the North East Live said that the attempt to bulldoze the public sentiment and forcefully declare normalcy or peace has been strongly initiated by the Government and its machinery these days in Kangpokpi district when in fact the situation has never been normalized.
He continued that the proposal to visit villages by the district administration, district police, and security forces during this critical situation when all are in fear and apprehensive is considered as part of the Government and its machinery's policy and plan to forcefully declare normalcy and peace in Kangpokpi district and that is why the enraged mobs resorted to blockade and agitations today at Saparmeina.
He maintained that unless the Government restores long-lasting peace and normalcy by coming up with policies and plans after winning the people's confidence, the attempt to create and fabricate peace and normalcy will never serve any purpose.
Rather it will only ignite more violence.
"Therefore, on behalf of the people of Kangpokpi, I urge the State Government and its machinery never to attempt or initiate any policies and plans to bulldoze the public sentiment for forceful normalcy or peace in the district," he added.
Meanwhile, the secretary of COTU, Sadar Hills said that shops in Kangpokpi town were asked to open for the internally displaced persons who were evacuated in the district to buy their essential needs and this should not be taken as if normalcy is limping back in the district.
Not a single commercial vehicle could pass the highway till now, and no educational institution could be open yet, which clearly demonstrates that the situation is still very grim and there is no sign of normalcy or peace in the district, he added.
He also urged the Government and its machinery to avoid any attempt to aggravate the situation by initiating any policy and plan to forcefully declare normalcy and peace when in fact normalcy is still far off.