Kuki militants launch renewed attacks on Meitei villages
'Central forces do nothing'
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 04 2024: Even as both the Central Government and the State Government have been claiming that peace has eventually returned in Manipur, guns have started booming with Kuki militants one again attacking Meitei villages in the periphery of Imphal East district.

Decrying that the Central forces remained mute spectators when the Kuki militants attacked the Meitei villages for almost four hours, the Lamlai Kendra Village Volunteer Force (LKVVF) and the people of Yaingangpokpi area have decided to close Imphal-Ukhrul road indefinitely from the morning of August 7 if the Central forces deployed in the area not replaced by State forces within 48 hours.

Using bombs and other sophisticated weapons, Kuki militants attacked Sabung- khok Khunou, Yaingang-pokpi Shanti- khongbal and Thamnapokpi last night at around 9.30 .

It is said that the attack continued till around 1.30 am today.

Even though there was no human casualty, five houses of Yainganpokpi Shanti-khongbal and Thamnapokpi suffered large scale damages as they were hit by bombs and bullets.

The damaged houses belong to Thokchom Amu, Loitongbam Kumar, Ngangom Hemanta, Sou-grakpam Ibomcha, Ahan- them Rohen and Keisam Sanathoi.

While Thokchom Amu is a resident of Yaingangpokpi Shantikhongbal, the other four are residents of Thamnapokpi.

A team of Yaingangpokpi police station came to the villages targeted by the Kuki militants and took stock of the situation after the firing ceased.

Talking with the media, one Oinam Chandrabali asked those political leaders who have been claiming that the violence has subsided to come to Thamnapokpi and spend at least one hour there, if not one full night, and see if peace has really returned or not.

She said that the villagers would give company if the political leaders are willing to spend a few hours at their villages.

Kuki militants have been repeatedly attacking Sabungkhok Khunou, Yai-ngangpokpi Shantikhong- bal, Thamnapokpi and other adjoining Meitei villages at any time of their choice in spite of the Central forces' assurance they would not allow Kukis to open fire toward the Meitei villages, she said.

Although the Kuki militants have been attacking the Meitei villages repeatedly using bombs and bullets, the Central forces deployed in the area did not fire back a single bullet even once.

Strangely, whenever Kuki militants opened fire toward the Meitei villages from the nearby hills, the Central forces carried out search operations in the valley instead of taking any action against the Kuki assailants.

It appears that there is some sort of understanding between the Central security forces and the Kuki militants, she said.

Meanwhile, the Lamlai Kendra Village Volunteer Force (LKVVF) has announced that the Imphal-Ukhrul road would be closed indefinitely from August 7 morning if the Central forces deployed at Sabungkhok Khunou, Thamnapokpi and Sanasabi etc are not replaced by State forces within 48 hours.

LKVVF coordinator Oinam Okensana said that a decision to this effect was adopted at a joint meeting of LKVVF, CSOs and Meira Paibi groups including those of Sabungkhok, Sabungkhok Khunou, Yaingangpokpi, Yaingangpokpi Shantikhongbal, Thamnapokpi and Sanasabi held today.

Lamlai AC MLA Kh Ibomcha too came to the meeting and assured that the Jat Regiment, Assam Rifles and BSF deployed in the area would be replaced by State forces shortly, Okensana said.

If the MLA's assurance is not translated into action within 48 hours, different modes of intense agitation including closure of Imphal-Ukhrul road would be launched, he said before appealing to all the CSOs and the people to support the proposed agitation.

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