COCOMI asks state, central forces to save missing civilians
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 12 2024: With three women and three minors still missing in Jiribam after Monday's firing incident at Borobekra sub-division of the district wherein 10 Kuki militants were killed, Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) said that both the state and central forces must take immense responsibility to save lives of the missing civilians.

Addressing media persons at its office at Lamphel Tuesday, COCOMI assistant coordinator Joychandra Konthoujam said lives of the six civilians abducted by Kuki terrorists must be saved or else the committee will launch intense movement with the people.

He contended that killing of a young housewife at Saiton and missing of six innocent civilians in Jiribam were due to lapses of state and central forces.

While urging people particularly those residing in fringe villages to remain at maximum alert, Joychandra said the present coordinated attacks on fringe villages is to restrict farmers from replenishing food stock.

Moreover, the attacks were due to lapses on part of both the state and central forces.

If more than 60,000 central forces and 35,000 plus state forces deployed in the state are unable to protect people and farmers in the peak harvesting season, let the people defend themselves as such a measure would not only ensure harvest of crops but also uproot terrorists, he said adding that denying farmers to harvest crops by firing is an act of terrorist.

Asking as to how long the Government of India will continue to support terrorists and their nefarious acts, Joychandra said the Government of India must take firm action against terrorists if it intends to end the present conflict.

He also sought explanation from the Government of India for protecting SoO militants.

Manipur being a state of India, necessary steps for ensuring rights of the state and its people should be taken up or else the people might decide to resist Indian administration, Joychandra warned.

COCOMI media coordinator Yumkhaibam Surjit Khuman also attended the press conference and said that central and state forces must take immediate steps to rescue all the six civilians abducted by Kuki terrorists and handover them alive to their families.

Justifying the action of CRPF personnel against Kuki terrorists at Borobekra in Jiribam, Surjit said the present worrisome situation could have been averted had the other central security forces acted like CRPF against Kuki terrorists in the initial phase of the conflict.

Comment