Govt accused of selective enforcement of law
Source: Chronicle News Service
Kangpokpi, November 10 2023:
High tension grips Kangpokpi district as Kuki-Zo people intensified their mass movement, protesting the alleged "selective injustice and selective enforcement of the law" by the Biren-led government, while demanding the release of the two Kuki-Zo individuals arrested by Manipur police.
Thousands of Kuki-Zo people congregated again on Friday afternoon at Brig M Thomas ground and resolved to intensify the mass movement after a serious deliberation, prior to taking out another rally till the office of SP Kangpokpi via National Highway-2 .
The protestors chanted slogans such as, "Release the illegally detained two Kuki-Zo", "We want justice", " No more state forces power", "No selective injustice, No selective enforcement of the law", "We will not leave until our two innocent Kuki-Zo are brought down to Kangpokpi from Senapati and released without any condition", etc.
The protestors then staged sit-in protest in front of SP Kangpokpi, disrupting the movement of vehicles.
They also burned tyres and wood, and put up boulders along the highway at various locations.
Many vehicles were left stranded along the highway, while shops and business establishments were closed and schools declared holiday from noon.
Speaking to the media, CoTU general secretary Lamminlun Singsit conceded that the public leaders can no longer control public sentiment and the people have started a mass/public movement protesting against the selective injustice and enforcement of the law.
He informed that the Kuki-Zo people across Kangpokpi have decided to no longer tolerate the selective injustice and enforcement of law only in the Kuki-Zo-dominated areas.
Singsit also stated that volunteers of radicalised Meetei groups are roaming hassle-free with sophisticated weapons in the capital city, while the unruly and uncontrolled mobs are murdering innocent civilians with law enforcement agencies remaining as mute spectators.
All these clearly demonstrated the lawlessness among the majority community contrary to law of the land strictly enforced in Kuki-Zo-dominated areas, up to the extent of arresting innocent Kuki-Zo civilians on false accusations and allegations, he remarked.
As such, Kuki-Zo people have decided to re-launch the mass movement and resolved that there will be no more power of state forces in all Kuki-Zo-dominated areas, he added.
"Now, the people are the law and shall be the enforcing agencies while the state forces shall have no more authority to enforce or apply the law at their own whims and fancy," he asserted.
The CoTU secretary then cautioned that since the public leaders have no more control over the sentiment of the people, any untoward incident arising shall be the sole responsibility of the biased government of N Biren.
He further conveyed that the public have decided not to back off from their agitation until the two innocent Kuki-Zos detained in Senapati, are brought to Kangpokpi and released without any condition.
He also said that Kuki-Zo people of Kangpokpi have resolved to continue their demonstration in front of the SP's office until their demands were met, even if they have to spend the night at the site.
In connection with the disruption to vehicular movement, closure of shops and schools, Singsit stated that the matter is in the hands of the public and COTU has no say at all, while adding that the public are even prepared to close down all government offices.
Although the protestors were seen demonstrating in front of the SP's office till the time of filing this report, the highway has been opened temporarily so as not to create problem to innocent commuters.
It is also reported that the protestors will further intensify the demonstration including imposition of total shutdown and picketing of offices, in accordance to the response and action of the authority concerned.
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