Ruling MLAs demand abrogation of SoO ; Centre asked to withdraw partisan Central forces
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal/Moirang, January 21 2024: Apparently displeased with how the Central forces have been dealing with the violent crisis in Manipur, Chief Minister N Biren Singh has said that the State Govern-ment has sent a proposal to the Centre to withdraw the Central forces which take side and deploy forces which can act in impartial manner in their place.

The Chief Minister made the statement during his visit to Ningthoukhong to meet the family members of the four farmers, including a father and a son who were murdered by Kuki terrorists near a water supply plant on the western side of Ning-thoukhong Kha Khunou on January 18 .

Ruling MLAs demand abrogation of SoO ; Centre asked to withdraw partisan Central forces

Oinam Bamonjao (60) and his son O Manitomba (32), Thiyam Somendro (50), son of (late) Th Manibabu and Ningthoujam Nabadeep (37), son of (late) N Shyam, all from Ningthoukhong Kha Khunou Ward No 4 were murdered by Kuki terrorists on January 18 .

N Biren offered his condolences to the bereaved families after visiting all the four families one after another and provided an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh each.

Meanwhile, a meeting presided by the Chief Minister held a threadbare discussion on the non-intervention of Assam Rifles even after civilians especially daily wagers and farmers have been attacked and killed frequently by Kuki narco-terrorists.

The meeting of the ruling Ministers and MLAs was held in the morning today at the CM's Secretariat.

Speaking to The Sangai Express, some ruling MLAs said that the meeting took a resolution to submit a memorandum to the Centre to abrogate the Suspension of Operation (SoO) pact.

Saying that the SoO pact is the source of Kuki militants' hostility, they said that the Chief Minister, Council of Ministers and ruling MLAs may adopt stronger resolutions if the SoO pact is not abrogated.

The meeting further resolved to urge the Centre to withdraw Assam Rifles especially from Moreh, Kak- ching, Bishnupur and Imphal West and deploy a neutral force instead.

Speaking to the media on the sideline of his visit to Ningthoukhong, the Chief Minister continued that the incident of killing four farmers was very tragic and assured that the State Government will find out the Kuki terrorists who murdered them and take up appropriate actions against them.

The Chief Minister said that he was dejected on seeing the conditions of the bereaved families while condemning the murder of the four farmers .

To a query, the Chief Minister denied the claim that Kuki militants have erected new bunkers in Meitei's land at Phubala. He assured that the State Government will try at its best to fulfil all the demands being raised by the 'JAC against the Brutal Killing of Four Civilians at Ningthou-khong Kha Khunou by Kuki-Zo Narco-Terrorists' .

N Biren further said that the Government will provide a land to construct a house of late Ningthoujam Nabadeep apart from providing Government jobs to the next of kin of all the four deceased and enrol their children to Government schools at free of cost.

Wife of Thiyam Somen-dro, while drawing the attention of the Chief Minister , said that many families have been shattered while many women have been made widows by the ongoing strife in Manipur.

She urged the Government to take up all necessary actions to stop the bloodshed.

After visiting the bereaved families, the Chief Minister went to the spot where the four persons were murdered by the Kuki militants and also inspected the site where IRB personnel will be deployed.

The Chief Minister was accompanied by Ministers Govindas Konthoujam, Thounaojam Basantakumar, MLAs S Premchandra, Th Shanti and T Robindro.