COCOMI, FOCS condemn crackdown on IDPs
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 01 2024: The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) and the Federation of Civil Society Organisations (FOCS) have vehemently condemned the brutal crackdown on displaced persons in which several protesters and a reporter sustained grievous injuries.

The displaced persons who have been enduring all kinds of misery in relief camps for the last 15 months after their houses were burnt down by Kuki militants were taking out a protest rally demanding early resettlement.

But Imphal East district police unleashed brute force upon the hapless protesters in the name of preventing the rally.

Apart from firing several rounds of live bullets, tear gas shells, rubber bullets and mock bombs upon the displaced people even before they came out of their Akampat relief camp, the security forces mercilessly assaulted a journalist.

Many young students of nearby Eastern Ideal High School fainted on hearing the sounds of repeated firing of tear gas shells and live bullets.

Vehemently condemning the excessive police action, COCOMI and FOCS, through separate press statements, have urged the Government to take up befitting action against all the rogue police personnel at the earliest.

By unleashing brute force upon the displaced persons who were only attempting to take out a democratic protest rally, Manipur Police and Police Commando only exposed their cowardice, FOCS said.

Security forces generally unleashed brute force when people took out protest rallies in peaceful and democratic manner in the valley but both the Central forces and State forces remained mute spectators when Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists committed acts of terrorism by burning down houses and plundering villages, COCOMI asserted.

Had the security forces performed their duties effectively and fought back against the Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists, the violent crisis besieging Manipur could have been controlled within five days, COCOMI said.

Pointing out that the Government and its security forces did not say anything when rallies were taken out in some district headquarters on June 24 demanding separate administration, FOCS questioned as to why today's democratic rally was prohibited and extreme repressive measures were unleashed upon the displaced people who were only demanding resettlement at their original homes.

It further questioned if the laws of the land are applicable only to the valley districts, excluding the hills.

The Sub-Inspector who mercilessly assaulted Impact TV Reporter RC Mangang must be terminated and befitting legal action should be initiated against all the police personnel involved in the brutal crackdown, FOCS added.

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