Khamenlok Area Villages' Chiefs demand adequate protection
Source: The Sangai Express

Kangpokpi, June 16 2023: Reacting strongly against the narratives of involvement of Kuki militants in attacking Meitei people in Khamenlok, the Khamenlok Area Villages' Chiefs urged the Government to allow the Suspension of Operation (SoO) groups to protect them if the security forces are not capable of protecting them and their villages.

The Khamenlok Area Villages' Chiefs strongly condemned the Khamenlok incident where around ten villages have been burnt down and also clarified on 'the false and misleading media reports over the incident' .

In this regard, a joint clarification has been issued by Thangminlal Chongloi, Chief of H Khopibung village; Haokholen Touthang, Chief of Chullouphai village; Paojalet Touthang, Chief of Aigejang, A Phainom, and A Leikot village; Thangjangam Guite, Chief of Khamenlok village; Jangkholun Touthang, Chief of T Jordanphai village; Letkholal Lupheng, Chief of Govajang village; Letkhojang Touthang, Chief of Thombol village and Ziltong Manlun, Chief of Songjang village.

The Khamenlok Area villages' Chiefs alleged that 'heavily armed thousands of Meitei militants including a banned underground outfit cadres and militias aided by armed personnel drawn from Manipur Police Commandos and IRB attacked villages under Khamenlok area in Saikul Sub Division of Kangpokpi for three consecutive days from June 12 till 14 leading to destruction of our villages namely H Khopibung, Khamenlok, Chullouphai, Aigejang, A Leikot, A Phainom, Thombol, T Jordanphai, Songjang and Govajang' .

They also categorically described the attack and destruction as "calculated State sponsored design" at displacing them from their homeland.

The Chiefs went on to express that 'media houses based at Imphal valley controlled by the Meiteis have painted us to be Kuki militants and the attackers of this terror campaign while we were busy defending the villages with every weapon at our disposal leading to casualties on both sides' .

The Chiefs also said 'Renowned print media houses such as 'The Hindu', 'The Indian Express' etc spinning the Meitei narrative of being the victims of Kukis attack is unfathomable.' and appealed to all concerned 'to not paint the victims as aggressors and armed aggressors a Meitei villagers' .

Further they alleged, "The attack and assault on the Kuki villages on the day of June 14 was directly supervised and commanded by Chief Minister N Biren Singh, Power Minister Th Biswajit Singh and Rajya Sabha MP Leisemba Sanajaoba who were stationed at Nongsum Meitei village the whole day till the house burning campaigns were over' .

"An FIR on the destruction of our villages and properties shall be lodged and the State Government that sponsored these acts of terrors by arming the Meiteis to carry out their ethnic cleansing campaign upon the minority Kukis should also be booked in accordance with the law of the country", they added.

Lastly, the Khamenlok Area Villages' Chiefs fervently appealed to the Government of India to take up immediate measures for 'Separate Administration of the Tribals living in present day Manipur, particularly the Kukis' .

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