Jiri violence : Fingers pointed at DG, SA
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 14 2024: As many five student organisations including DESAM, KSA, SUK and AIMS have categorically stated that DGP Rajiv Singh and Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh are responsible for the recent spate of violence, killing and displacement of hundreds of people in Jiribam district.

Despite the early warnings given by the Chief Minister's office about movement of a large number of Kuki militants toward Jiribam, the Kuki militants still managed to attack the Meitei people of Jiribam and burnt down their houses.

This attack was a testimony of the sheer irresponsibility on the part of the DGP and the Security Advisor, the student bodies asserted in a joint statement.

They urged the State Government to sack both the DGP and the Security Advisor immediately and show that there is rule of law in the State.

They went on to ask if there is any valid reason for not sacking the DGP and the Security Advisor even after they have failed miserably to protect lives and properties of citizens for the past one year.

The highly deteriorated law and order situation was demonstrated beyond any doubt when Kuki militants attacked an advance security team of the Chief Minister.

When Kuki militants have the audacity to attack even the Chief Minister's advance security team, security and safety of citizens is simply unimaginable, said the student bodies.

When the DGP and the Security Advisor are not listening to the elected representatives, it is a matter of utter shame that the State Government is unable to sack DGP Rajiv Singh and Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh, they said.

This is an abject failure of the State Government and such a spiritless attitude of the State Government has been only fuelling people's resentment and anger, the student bodies continued.

What is even more unfortunate are the repeated attempts of both the Central Government and the State to hoodwink the people of Manipur.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah was saying that the Manipur crisis was a result of external aggression and then he stated that it was not terrorism but Meitei-Kuki ethnic crisis, they remarked.

The student bodies then questioned if the Kuki militants' attempt to take complete control of Jiribam district and cut off the State's lifeline (Imphal-Jiribam highway) was not an act of terrorism.

Creation of buffer zones, red zones and line of controls only testified that the State Government is devoid of any spirit, they remarked.

They urged Chief Minister N Biren to keep his words and show before the world that there is rule of law in Manipur.

After the latest term of the SoO agreement expired on February 29, 2024, the Government of India has been keeping the status of SoO a closely guarded secret.

If the term of the SoO has not been extended, the Government of India ought to take up concrete actions against the Kuki militants.

However, the Government of India has been rather protecting the Kuki militants, they alleged.

They then expressed strong suspicion if the term of SoO has been extended without any knowledge and concurrence of the State Government.

The Government of India must come out with an unambiguous statement on the status of SoO, the student bodies asserted.

They also called upon all the people to stand united to avoid the fate of sacrificial lamb at the altar of India's geopolitics.

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