Someone deliberately trying to prolong crisis: Bimol
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, June 08 2024:
Expressing concern over the resumption of violence just after the end of Lok Sabha election, Inner Manipur MP elect Angom-cha Bimol Akoijam has said that someone seems to be deliberately trying or orchestrating to lengthen the violence.
Security forces should protect lives and properties of people instead of shifting them and Jiribam should not be made like Moreh and Churachandpur, from where the Meeteis were cleansed in the initial phase of the ongoing violence erupted on May 3, 2023, Angomcha Bimol Akoijam told media persons at his Keishamthong, here.
Angomcha Bimol Akoijam told media persons during an interaction on Saturday that relative calm prevailed in the state before the Lok Sabha election but fresh violence erupted just after the end of Lok Sabha election and this time it is in Jiribam district.
It is quite concerning that the Meeteis settled at Khumujamba Leikai in Churachandpur were ethnically cleansed during the initial phase of the violence and the locality is totally flattened now.
In the same manner, the Meeteis from Moreh were forced out and now the Meeteis in Jiribam, which remained untouched by the violence for more than one year, are facing a situation like that of Churachandpur and Moreh, he added.
According to Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, there is clear sign of adopting a design similar to the partition of India and Pakistan, wherein separation or transfer of population was done widely, in the present violence in Manipur.
From the very beginning of the violence, there has been population transfer and this policy indeed gives advantage to separatists.
One vivid example of this policy has been the ethnic cleansing of Meeteis from Churachandpur and Moreh and a big question has emerged if the similar thing is happening in Jiribam, Bimol said.
Due to the prevailing tense situation in Jiribam, security forces took up steps to shift or relocate people but this should not have been done at all as security forces should move in to tense areas to protect lives and properties of the people.
If required, reinforcement should be arranged and this is the indispensable duty of the government, he said and appealed to the government to take up such steps immediately.
While expressing concern that Manipur is now in a situation where anyone could burn it by triggering a spark, Angomcha Bimol Akoijam said that there are many people who want to break apart Manipur but people of the state should not give advantage to such malicious people.
Those who want war and do not want to end the violence will try everything to lengthen the violence and accordingly need to take up steps with deep thought.
These people will also try to win sentiments of the people with emotions, he said and appealed to people to be responsible and not to succumb to rumours.
He further appealed to people have faith in the government institutions and authority like state and Central forces as this will enable the rule of law to prevail in the state.