"No other unit should replace 18 AR"
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 06 2024: Villages of Pukhao and Dolaithabi, Imphal East have categorically stated that no other Assam Rifles' unit should replace 18 AR currently stationed at Sagolmang.

Perturbed and anguished by the purported reports that plans are afoot to replace 18 AR with 288 AR, villagers of Sagolmang, Pukhao and neighbouring villages staged a protest demonstration at Sagolmang Khewa Company by sitting on the middle of the road.

They also held a public meeting there.

The protest demonstration echoed with slogans like "18 AR should not be withdrawn", "No AR unit should replace 18 AR", "If 18 AR should be withdrawn, all AR troops must be withdrawn from Manipur and they must be replaced by State forces", "We want peace" etc.

Speaking to media persons by the sideline of the protest demonstration, United Committee Pukhao and Makeng Dolaithabi Gram Panchayat president Thokchom Sanjoy said that the people of Sagolmang, Pukhao and adjoining villages are one of the worst affected victims of the Kuki-Zo aggression which started on May 3, 2023 .

Armed Kukis attacked a number of Meitei villages, burnt down thousands of houses and killed a number of Meitei villagers in the peripheral areas of Imphal East district adjoining Kangpokpi district.

At that time, there was 22 Assam Rifles at Sagolmang but the troops of 22 AR failed miserably to protect the lives and properties of Meitei people living in foothills from the Kuki aggression, Sanjoy said.

As the people's resentment overflowed on seeing how the troops of 22 AR were acting as if they had a tacit understanding with the Kuki terrorists, people of the area raised a strong voice against Assam Rifles, he said.

Later, 22 AR was replaced with 18 AR and it made a lot of difference as the troops of 18 AR discharged their duties in an impartial manner.

Thus they succeeded in containing the violence and brought some sort of normalcy, he recounted.

Any plan to withdraw 18 AR or replace them with another AR unit is unacceptable, he asserted.

Replacement of 18 AR with 28 AR would be akin to abetting the Kuki militants in attacking Meitei villages and killing innocent villagers, and it would only escalate the violence in the area, Sanjoy continued.

If 18 AR should be withdrawn from Sagolmang area, all Assam Rifles troops should be withdrawn from Manipur as desired by the people of the State, he said.

Or if 18 AR must be withdrawn from Sagolmang area, they must be replaced by State forces, not by any other AR unit, he said.

He also urged the Government to come out with an unambiguous response on the matter within 12 hours.

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