Govt timidity reason for rise of village volunteers: AMUCO
Shut down hits hard normal life, bid to storm police station foiled, RAF thrashes father-son duo
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, September 19 2023: Asserting that no youth would take up arms to defend the villages near the foothills if the government could fight the aggression of Kuki militants in time, All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO) has demanded unconditional release of the five village volunteers who have been arrested by police.

In a statement, AMUCO said that people of Manipur will stand by the side of the five arrested village volunteers.

They are heroes of the state and they are coming out as the government could not face the Kuki militants.

As they are executing the tasks which the government machinery should perform, the government should honour them for volunteering in the fight against Kuki aggression instead of detaining or arresting them, the statement said while calling upon the people of the state to stand united in this crucial hour.

It further stated that arresting the village volunteers will discourage their volunteerism and it will leave the villages located near the foothills unprotected.

The need of the hour is to empower the village volunteers and not to crack down upon them.

Manipur police commandos and IRB personnel could not face the Kuki militants who attacked the villages in the foothills from the vantage point of the hill.

In such a situation, it is the village volunteers, who pushed off and flushed out the militants by venturing to the hills.

So, crackdown on the village volunteers is not the right step, especially when they are doing the jobs of the state force, AMUCO asserted.

It further asked the government to take up measures for ensuring proper and effective functioning of the state police in Kangpokpi, Moreh and Churachandpur.

Crackdown on the brave village volunteers will only trigger more unrest in the state, it cautioned, while asking the police force to use its might in the hill districts, where Kuki militants are waging a war against the territorial integrity of the state using sophisticated weapons and bombs.

The statement also called upon the local women organisations to step up vigil for protecting the village volunteers, who are the real defenders in this crisis against the aggressive action of the government.

It is a well-known fact that the Kuki militants do not care about the state police and it is the village volunteers that they fear.

The government should under stand this simple fact and act accordingly.

Arresting the village volunteers is not considered by the public as the rightful duty of the police or the government in this situation.

AMUCO also questioned the stand of the state government on the SoO agreement with Kuki militants despite their involvement in the present conflict since the beginning.

Meanwhile, normal life was badly affected in the valley areas on Tuesday as various civil society organisations called a 48-hour shut down across the state demanding unconditional release of five 'village protection volunteers' arrested on Saturday with sophisticated weapons in camouflage uniform.

Protesting the arrest, large number of men and women came out to protest on Sunday and tried to storm Porompat police station in Imphal East district demanding release of the arrested persons.

Joint security forces repelled the police station attack by firing tear gas shells.

In the melee several men and women including a Rapid Action Force personnel received minor injuries.

In view of the shutdown in five valley districts, all types of vehicles, including those of security forces were off the roads, inter-district, inter-state buses and trucks did not operate.

Markets, shops, business establishments, banks, government offices, educational institutions were closed in Bishnupur, Kakching, Thoubal, Imphal West, and Imphal East districts.

Examinations of various institutions scheduled on Tuesday and Wednesday were postponed.

Movement of Central and state security forces were obstructed in many places as the agitators blockaded many roads.

The civil society organisations earlier set a deadline to release the five detainees, but police rejected the demand.

The agitating organisations threatened to intensify their agitations if the 'volunteers' were not released after the 48-hour shut down, which was started from the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday.

Security has been tightened further and additional security forces deployed in various vulnerable, sensitive and mixed populated areas of the state.

M Memcha, a spokesperson of the agitating organisations, claimed that the village protection volunteers were "protecting Meitei villagers from the attacks of the Kuki tribals and armed militants" .

Normal life affected as 48-hour Manipur bandh comes into effect

Langthabal Kendra Clubs Coordinating Committee (LK-CCC), Langthabal Kendra Meira Paibi Coordinating Committee, All Kongba Road United Clubs Organisation, Kurao Makhong United Club Sagolband Kurao Makhong, Sagolband Apunba Lup and Naharol Yaiphakol are spearheading the agitation which will continue till Wednesday.

People came out of their houses and blocked the roads by placing logs, water pipes and stones along with burning tyres.

Womenfolk also blocked the road by sitting in groups.

Protestors also burnt effigies of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and chief minister N Biren.

With exception of few incidents, personnel involved in medical, health and religious event were allowed passage after verification during the bandh hours.

In Imphal East district's Lamlong, Ayangpalli road, Khurai Telipati road, Tinsid road-and Porompat DC road people blocked the roads.

Personnel of Rapid Action Force (RAF) deployed in the area fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd in which one person sustained injuries.

A father and his son who were staying inside their house in Khurai Chingakham Leirak were beaten up by RAF personnel and later taken to JNIMS for treatment.

The father-son duo has been identified as Thounaojam Nonichand (60) and Ibungo (25).Road blockades were also carried out at Top Khongnangkhong, Kongpal Iran-pham Thongkhong, Porompat DC office, Porompat Crossing, JNIMS crossing, Khurai Lamlong, Lamlong Telipati, Wangkhei, Kongba bazaar, Kongba Nongthombam Leikai, Khongman Mangjil, Singjamei, Uripok, Naoremthong, Iroisemba, Sagolband, Tera, Takyel, Langjing and Khumbong bazar.

In Thoubal district bandh supporters including men and women came out since early morning and blocked the Imphal-Moreh Road (NH-102) at Khongjom bazar and Wangjing bazar.

Major markets in Thoubal district namely Wangjing, Thoubal, Khongjom and Yairipok wore a deserted look as traders ceased activities while shops and business establishments, educational institutions, banks and government offices remained closed.

At Thoubal Wangmataba, a woman agitator informed reporters that the arrested 5 village volunteers should be released immediately without any condition and failure to do so will lead to more intense agitations in various forms.

Agitators also blocked roads in Tentha, Heirok and Wangjing area and shouted slogans like "Release the arrested 5 village volunteers", "Territorial Integrity of Manipur cannot be destroyed" and "Implement NRC in Manipur".

Yairipok Khoirom Mayai Leikai Apunba Meira Paibi Lup also endorsed the 48-hour bandh and blocked the road.

Jiribam also witnessed people supporting the bandh and blocking roads.

All types of vehicles, inter-district, inter-state buses and trucks did not operate.

Schools and colleges were closed while markets, shops and business establishments downed their shutters.

Police were deployed in various places to prevent unwanted incidents.

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