Displaced Meeteis bat for additional state forces in Moreh
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, January 23 2024: Peace can be restored in Moreh only after the state government despatches additional state forces considering the fluid law and order situation in the border town, said people who have been displaced from Moreh and are taking shelter in different relief camps across the state.

Speaking to reporters in this regard, some displaced people from Moreh noted that since the ethnic violence broke out on May 3 last year, Kuki militants began attacking Meeteis in Moreh and burning down their houses.

Though the situation in Moreh stabilised to some extent after deployment of special commandos and state forces, on October 30 last, Kuki militants resorted to attacking the state forces and shot dead Moreh SDPO.

The displaced people further informed that after gunning down the Moreh SDPO, Manipur police conducted search operations in different parts of Moreh town to drive out the Kuki militants.

They also contended that attacks carried out by Kuki militants were in the presence of central forces stationed in Moreh to maintain law and order.

While alleging that the central forces did not take up any steps to arrest the perpetrators, the displaced Meeteis questioned purpose of setting up key location points of Assam Rifles in different locations including T Minou village, SS Moljol village, Moreh ward number 1, ward number 4 IB and helipad as Kuki militants continued to attack the state forces.

Therefore, there is no use for deployment of central forces in Moreh, they reasoned.

The camp residents further said that setting up posts of IRB and MR in Moreh by the state government can be one of means for restoring peace in Moreh.

Noting that insignificant number of state forces including special commandos, IRB and MR deployed in Moreh are guarding Meetei settlements and upholding the territorial integrity of Manipur despite facing risks, they alleged that the central forces are serving as shield for the Kuki militants in launching attacks on state forces.

As such deployment of additional personnel of Gorkha Rifles and BSF in Moreh will be of no use until they are given the power to aid the state forces in countering the attacks of Kuki militants, observed the displaced Meeteis.

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