ATUM decries
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 20 2024:
The Aimol Tribe Union, Manipur (ATUM) has asked whether Kuki militants have the right to abduct Naga civilians.
ATUM raised this point following the abduction of Kharam Thadoi village chief Chongthu Memory and her son 'by Kuki militants' yesterday at around 2.30 pm.
Condemning the abduction, the Union cautioned all concerned not to drag the Nagas into the conflict in Manipur.
A small 'mistake' can lead to a larger problem at this crucial time, it further cautioned.
Saying that Chongthu Memory and her son were abducted from the ZEO office in Kangpokpi, the union asked where the Central and State security forces were at the time of the abduction.
Do Kuki militants have the right to barge into a Government office with automatic weapons and abduct people, the union asked.
It also said that Kuki militants abducting Aimol people was unethical.
Saying that the village chief and her son were abducted based on unfounded allegations, ATUM asked the abductors not to believe in every hearsay.
The duo was rescued due to the timely intervention by various Naga civil society organisations, it added.
Asking how they were abducted from a Government office and what were the security forces doing at the time of the incident, it urged the Government to arrest the abductors.
It also said that the Government should deploy more security forces at Government offices.
Urging the Kuki militants and all concerned to refrain from targeting Aimol Naga people and Aimol villages, ATUM added that Aimol people have been maintaining neutrality amid the violence in Manipur.
Asking all concerned to take full responsibility for all eventualities if they continue to target Aimol people, ATUM said that even a small mistake can create a larger problem given the situation in Manipur.