Government appealed to ensure cultivation of crops
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 18 2024: Manipur Loumi Lup has urged the government to take up initiatives for ensuring cultivation of crops in the periphery areas and foothills, which could not be cultivated due to the ethnic violence that erupted in the state since May 3, 2023.In a release, Lup secretary H Ibobi stated that around 10,000 hectares of agricultural area located in periphery and foothills areas remain barren since outbreak of the conflict.

Some agricultural areas were cultivated by farmers by putting their lives at risk, but during the time of harvesting, Kuki militants launched attack with use of automatic weapons and bombs.

However, the crops were successfully harvested with protection of combined teams of state and central forces, he recalled, while urging the government to take up such initiatives and ensure cultivation of Kharif crops for this season also.

He further demanded to identify hypersensitive areas where Kuki militants frequently carried out attacks on Meetei villages in foothills and replace the Assam Rifles deployed in such areas with combined teams of state and central forces excluding AR.

Pointing out that Sikh Regiment obstructed Meetei farmers who went to prepare for cultivation in their farms in Ngangkha Lawai under Bishnupur district near Kuki villages, but allowed Kukis to till the land and sow seeds, Ibobi demanded that the government look into the matter seriously and replace Sikh Regiment with other central forces including state forces.

Farmers can cultivate farmlands in Koutruk, Senjam Chirang, Khurkhul, Kanto Sabal, Phayeng, Kangchup Chingkhong, Yaingangpokpi, Leitanpokpi, Dolaithabi, Itham Moirangpurel, Nongsum, Napat, Pangaltabi, Phougakchao Ikhai, Torbung and Serou without any fear if AR, Sikh Regiment, Bihar Regiment and Jat Regiment deployed in the areas are replaced with by other central forces and state forces, he maintained.

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