Pukhao junks Kuki slur against AR Colonel
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, December 08 2023:
Residents of Pukhao Terapur rejected the allegations levelled by some Kuki organisations against Colonel Oinam Akash, commandant of 18 Assam Rifles and termed the allegations as a desperate attempt to replace the commandant, who has been effectively maintaining law and order in the area.
Addressing a press meet at Khewa Company community hall on Friday, Northern Development Youth Club, Pukhao Terapur secretary Thokchom Sanjay said that the local residents strongly object to the allegations levelled against the Colonel, which was published in a newsletter of Kuki community called 'Thingkho Le Makha' on its December 7 edition.
He said that the area has seen a semblance of normalcy under the supervision of Colonel Akash.
Minor development work on the sericulture road was taken up to accommodate CRPF and Assam Rifles and Kukis are objecting to it because they do not want the security forces to stay there, the secretary said.
Sanjay also denied the allegation of Assam Rifles firing bombs towards Kuki villages and stated that Assam Rifles have never fired any bomb towards the Kuki villages except for exchange of fire with Kuki militants on May 30 and 31 when the latter began to burn Meetei houses in Pukhao and Leitanpokpi area.
Unfortunately, Kuki groups filed FIR against Colonel Akash alleging him of killing Kuki civilians and causing damage to properties worth Rs 46 crore, which the local residents strongly condemned.
Terming the allegation as a desperate attempt to disrepute the commandant in order to facilitate armed attacks by Kuki militants in the nearby Meetei villages, Sanjay recalled a recent attack by Kuki militants on the intervening night of December 4 and 5 towards Pukhao Shantipur.
On the said night, the local residents heard the AR team firing two bombs towards them, after which the Kuki militants fled the scene, he added.
Chanung Village Development Committee secretary M Tangba said that the road development work in the sericulture farm area is being taken up for accommodation of central security forces to ensure normalcy in the area.
They strongly condemned the baseless allegations levelled by Kuki organisations, he added.