Tension grips Sadar Hills over Cdos' ops
Source: The Sangai Express

Kangpokpi, May 02 2016: Tension loomed large over Sadar Hills along the National Highway on Saturday night, April 30 allegedly due to the apprehension of one SoO cadre at Keithelmanbi under Kangpokpi PS by recently posted Imphal West Commando personnel at Gamgiphai.

The incident happened at around 9 pm when Sadar Hills women confronted Imphal West police commandos recently posted at the newly created Gamgiphai Outpost to conduct operation in Saitu-Gamphazol, Sapormeina, Tujang and Keithelmanbi area.

Sadar Hills women of Motbung, Sapormeina, Keithelmanbi and Kangpokpi reportedly gathered in their respective areas and approached Leikop where they confronted the Cdo personnel who had apprehended the Defence Secretary of Kuki Revolutionary Front (KRF), a SoO group with the State and Central Government under the umbrella of United People's Front (UPF) .

The confrontation lasted till midnight and the women of Sadar Hills dispersed only when the Cdo personnel handed over the apprehended KRF Defence Secretary to them (the women).

There is no report of any casualty in the confrontation.

The sudden creation of Cdo Outpost at Gamgiphai in Sadar Hills and posting of Cdo personnel instantly at the Outpost irked the people of Sadar Hills while various civil society bodies also immediately registered their strong opposition stating that Manipur police commandos have nothing to do with the hill districts administration and Sadar Hills in particular.

They also demanded immediate withdrawal of the force including the Outpost at Gamgiphai within May 3 while warning to take up extreme agitation if the Government fails to act within the stipulated time.

Meanwhile, Saitu-Gamphazol Area Village Organization (SGAVO) and Sapormeina Area Village Organization (SAVO) registered their strong disappointment over the alleged Government technique of deploying the police commandos in the hill districts of Manipur.

In a joint statement, the two bodies said that the State Government deploy police commandos in the hill districts where they are persistently opposed.

The Cdos' Operation on the night of April 30 at various locations within Saitu-Gamphazol, Sapormeina and Tujang area was very 'unfortunate' said the two bodies while adding that if the Government is concerned of the law and order situation in Sadar Hills they should have rather strengthened the district police instead of sending the commandos only to discomfort the peace loving Sadarians.

SGAVO and SAVO also backed the demand of the civil bodies of Sadar Hills to withdraw the Cdo personnel and its Outpost at Gamgiphai while affirming to render physical as well as moral support to any movement of the CSOs Sadar Hills.

The two local bodies also questioned the three MLAs of Sadar Hills over their silence in creating the Cdo Outpost at Gamgiphai and instant posting of Cdo personnel at the Outpost while warning that the three Sadar Hills MLAs and the State Government should be held responsible for any untoward incident arising out of the issue.

Comment