'Construct only at affected areas'
Source: The Sangai Express

Kangpokpi, June 23 2023: A joint meeting of various Kuki civil society organi-sations, student associa- tions and chiefs was held at Kangpokpi District Headquarters, today on the proposed plan to construct prefabricated houses for the internally displaced persons.

The meeting held under the aegis of the Committee on Tribals Unity Sadar Hills (CoTU), Sadar Hills district has unanimously resolved that the proposed prefabricated houses shall be constructed only in the affected areas.

After lengthy deliberation, CoTU spokesperson Rev K Sitlhou conveyed about the Government decision to build prefabricated houses for the displaced people.

Saying that the initiative of the Government is praiseworthy, he demanded that the prefabricated house, however, have to be constructed only in the affected areas with adequate security measures to ensure the safety of the displaced folks.

K Sitlhou claimed that construction of prefabricated houses in unaffected places would not serve any purpose and it would be meaningless.

The joint meeting also condemned the alleged misleading report of Manipur media about yesterday's gunfight at N Boljang in New Keithelmanbi area of Kangpokpi district, he said and added that publishing misleading reports can escalate the violence and spread hatred among the people.

He claimed that it was the suspected armed Meitei militants who attacked the security forces deployed at N Boljang yesterday.

However, leading newspapers of the State came out with misleading headlines as if the gunfight was between the Kuki militants and the security forces while some carried the story of Kuki militants being shot dead in the gun attack, he claimed and asked all these media houses to provide evidence and details of the four killed along with their photographs in the gunfight.

He also urged the authority concerned to take necessary action against these media houses.

COTU will initiate legal actions against them if the media houses fail to apologise for the 'wrong narrative' .

Meanwhile, village chief of N Boljang, Thanglun Haokip said that all his villagers are safe and sound.

Multiple sources have confirmed the non-involvement of the Kuki militants in the gunfight at N Boljang village, he claimed.

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