AFSPA vital in Manipur valley : CoTU to Centre
Source: The Sangai Express
Kangpokpi, August 25 2023:
Highlighting the alleged failure to impose President's Rule despite 'complete breakdown of Constitutional machinery' in the State, the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) has called for reimposition of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in the valley districts of Manipur.
Referring to the months of turmoil prevailing in the State, Ng Lun Kipgen, Coordinator, CoTU's Media Cell has also questioned the Central Government about the factors that constitute a "constitutional breakdown" which will necessitate imposition of President's Rule in a State.
Urging the Centre to reimpose AFSPA in the valley districts of Manipur, the Coordinator of CoTU's Media Cell reasoned that AFSPA would be the only tool that could bring back law and order in the State.
He added that the lawlessness and the removal of AFSPA in the valley districts has added fuel to the ongoing crisis in the State.
Maintaining that the looting of arms and ammunition is one of the main factors for the chaos and wide-scale violence, he alleged that these arms are now in the hands of "Meitei insurgents groups as well as the surrendered cadres of the Meitei armed terror outfits" .
Unless these looted arms and ammunition are completely recovered, law and order, peace and normalcy would be a mere dream, but unfortunately, the recovery process and rate are still very low, he added.
To speed up the recovery process of the looted arms and ammunition, the Army and the Assam Rifles need to be empowered under AFSPA, as it will be the only tool to put law and order in the State in place, he further added.
He then urged the Prime Minister, Union Home Minister and the party leaders to put aside their political goals and empower the Central security forces to bring back law and order in the State.