Bid to vacate UNLF-P camp opposed
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, February 21 2024:
Peace & Development Coordinating Committee (PDCC), Khundrakpam and Shiv Sena Manipur president M Tombi strongly opposed attempt by Assam Rifles to vacate the MPA camp of Pambei-led UNLF from Uyumpok Nongshum.
Addressing a press meet at Manipur Press Club, here, on Wednesday, PDCC president L Joy said that villages like Uyumpok Nongshum, Pukhao Terapur, Pukhao Shantipur, Pukhao Leitanpokpi and surrounding areas have been experiencing persistent attacks from Chin-Kuki naro-terrorists since the violence broke out on May 3 last year.
Many village volunteers have been killed in such attacks, and the villagers living under uncertainty for months.
They could only get some respite after the MPA camp was established there, which the Assam Rifles is trying to vacate.
Out-rightly rejecting the AR's agenda as unacceptable to the people of the area, PDCC said it will oppose such attempt and stand against it, while urging the government not to take up any such steps which might affect peace in the area.
He also demanded the government not to renew the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement with Kuki militants.
He further informed that PDCC endorses the protest rally of Friday to be organised jointly by VPF Khundrakpam, United Committee Pukhao GP, Mak-eng Dolaithabi GP and EKAL Khundrakpam.
World Meitei Organisation (WMO) also strongly opposed the attempt to vacate MPA camp from Nongshum while questioning the motive behind the move of Assam Rifles, whom the organisation accused of not being able to control the Kuki militants.
It also said that WMO along with public will stand against any attempt to vacate the MPA camp from the area.
Meanwhile, appealing to both the UNLF-P and village volunteers not to retreat from Nongshum hills and continue to station there, Shiv Sena Manipur president M Tombi said that the UNLF-P cadres and village volunteers are in Nongshum only for self-defence.
He said that villagers volunteered to defend Meetei villages after both central and state governments failed to prevent attacks by Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists and accordingly the government should release all the six village volunteers arrested by police without any condition.
Expressing deep concern over inaction of both state and central governments in connection with the recent violence in Churachandpur, Tombi said that the government must take action to show that there is law and no one can be above law.
Condemning torching of government properties including DC and SP's offices, disrespect to the tricolour and shutdown of government offices in Churachandpur merely for suspending a policeman by the SP, M Tombi said that the inaction of the government against perpetrators of violence in Churachandpur was quite disturbing.
Chin-Kuki narco - terrorists continue to attack Meetei vil lages in fringe areas since May 3, 2023 and the government is still unable to contain the perpetrators or bring back peace and normalcy.
To defend from repeated attacks from Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists, one camp of UNLF led by Pambei was stationed atop Nongshum hills with presence of the camp proving effective in normalising the situation in the area.
At a time when Nongshum and nearby villages are returning to normalcy after stationing of the UNLF camp and also due to the effort of village volunteers, the Assam Rifles is reported to have warned the Pambei-led UNLF-P to withdraw from the area, he said and strongly condemned the warning.
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