Bimol questions non-response of SF personnel
Source: The Sangai Express

Moirang, June 20 2025: Lok Sabha Member Dr Bimol Akoijam has stated that the people need to question the security forces' failure or reluctance to respond to attacks by militants on innocent people.

Dr Bimol made this statement referring to the attack by Kuki militants on farmers at Phubala Maning paddy fields on June 19, 2025 .

The Kuki militants opened fire from a spot quite close to a bunker occupied by a unit of security forces.

The security forces should have retaliated but they did not, he said.

He then questioned if there is something between the higher authorities and those deployed on the ground.

Responding to the call made by the people of Phubala to the top administrative and security officers including the Governor, the IGP and the DC Bishnupur to inspect the site where the Kuki militants attacked the farmers and take up adequate security measures to protect farmers, MP Dr Bimol Akoijam, IGP Kabib, DC Bishnupur and SP Bishnupur today made an inspection of the spot where the attack place.

Speaking to media persons there, Dr Bimol expressed strong suspicion that there are certain elements determined to sabotage all efforts to restore peace in Manipur.

There is no such thing as a buffer zone.

There is a Government order which says that farmers can work 300 metres above the high canal.

Yesterday's attack took place to the eastern side of the high canal, he said.

The Indian army is a well trained force.

How they have been behaving in Manipur cannot be blamed on soldiers.

According to Section 131 of the erstwhile CrPC, a security commander deployed on the ground can take up befitting action without the concerned Deputy Commissioner's permit if something violent or unlawful happens in the area, the MP said.

So any excuse that they did not get order from the higher authority is invalid, he added.

CrPC, now BNS authorises company commanders as well as unit commanders to respond when public properties are destroyed or law and order is challenged in their operational areas.

The June 19, 2025 incident was not an isolated case.

For the past more than two years, security forces were not responding adequately to innumerable acts of violence and unlawfill activities, he said.

The people need to question if there is something systemic behind the security forces' failure to respond to acts of violence.

Police, Court and Army are all there to protect citizens but all these institutions have failed to protect citizens and there is a political dimension in their failure, Dr Bimol said.

Yesterday's attack was an attempt to kill, although the farmer survived luckily, he added.

Following the declaration made yesterday that intense modes of agitation including bandh on Tidim Road would be launched if the Governor, the IGP, DC Bishnupur and other top officials do not come and inspect the site where Kuki militants attacked fanners with a sense of impunity, different organisations of Bishnupur district held a joint meeting at Phubala market shed and waited for the arrival of the top administrative and security officers.

The proposed agitation was deferred till 2 pm after the arrival of MP Dr Bimol Akoijam, IGP Kakching, DC Bishnupur and SP Bishnupur.

After inspecting the site of attack, IGP, the DC and the SP talked with the aggrieved people.

The meeting resumed after the IGP, the DC and the SP left the place.

Speaking to media persons after the meeting on behalf of the people of Phubala, Ningthoujam Bhumeshor said IGP Kabib assured that necessary arrangements would be made to enable farmers carry out agricultural activities on some portions of land above the high canal.

Concerned security officers have been asked to submit an enquiry report within seven days, the IGP said, according to Bhumeshor.

The DC Bishnupur assured that additional security measures would be taken up so that farmers cultivate their fields, and due process would be initiated to provide compensation to the injured farmer.

After considering the assurances given by the IGP and the DC, the proposed agitation including Tidim Road bandh has been called off, he said.

On the other hand, the public meeting noted with deep concern that the Kuki militants attacked the farmers after breaching a three-layered security arrangement.

The meeting resolved that all the culprits should be awarded befitting punishment within seven days and the enquiry report should be placed in public domain.

Relocation of the security forces from their current position toward the hills within five days, authorising the security forces to shoot militants at sight, awarding adequate compensation to the injured farmer and initiation of agricultural activities without waiting for the authority's permission were some other resolutions adopted at the meeting.

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