No IRB, Commandos in Ukhrul : Rally
'No designated camp of Kuki militant groups in Naga areas'
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, June 25 2009: A protest rally carried out in Ukhrul district of Manipur today urged for the revision of the government move of deploying police commandos and Indian Reserve Battalions in the hill districts of state.

Thousands of people from different areas of the district turned up to participate in the protest rally which kicked off from Hundung Junction and marched till Tangkhul Long Ground in Ukhrul today where a mammoth public meeting was held.

A memorandum was also submitted to the Prime Minister of India through the district Deputy Commissioner, Ashok Kumar seeking his intervention in the move of the government in the deployment of state security forces in the hill areas of the state.

Thousands of people marched in Ukhrul town against the state Cabinet decision of deploying IRB and police commandos in the hill districts

Addressing the mammoth meeting, president of Tangkhul Nagalong, Yangmaso Raising said, there is no law and order problem in the hill districts of Manipur.

Therefore, the Cabient decision to deploy IRB and Manipur police commandos in the hill districts should be withdrawn immediately.

What the Chief Minister of Manipur, O Ibobi must know is that Ukhrul district is an island of peace, Raising said and added that since the ceasefire became effective, not a single bullet has been shot in the district.

Unless the Cabinet decision is withdrawn at the earliest, various intense agitations will be launched.

All consequences thereof should be borne by the state government, he warned.

Other speakers at today's public meeting lamented that the move of the government is part of the militarisation of the hill areas of Manipur and to suppress the people's voice against the violation of human rights arising out from time to time by means of arms.

The step of the government shows the tendency of the state government to use military as a means of handling any situation without caring whether security force is needed or not in dealing with the situation, the speakers said.

Speakers also expressed doubt on the role of the IRB and Manipur police commando personnel as peace-keepers considering the discipline, reputation and conduct earned by them in the past and present.

They said the decision of the government to open designated camp of a Kuki militant group, KNA which is under the Suspension of Operation with the Centre and the state government, in Naga inhabited areas cannot be accepted.

It will be sowing the seeds of ethnic clash between the Nagas and the Kukis, they said.

The rallysts carried placards on which were written slogans like "We want peace", "Go back IRB and commandos", "We have sufficient Assam Rifles and Manipur Rifles", "Revoke Cabinet decision", "We don't need human rights violators", "Remove AFSPA immediately", "Ibobi government�Don't disturb peace", etc.

They also shouted slogans.

The rally and public meeting were jointly organised by Ukhrul-based organisations such as Tangkhul Nagalong, Tangkhul Mayar Ngala Long, Tangkhul Katamnao Long, Tangkhul Shanao Long, etc.