Arson acts continue as Jiribam denizens rally for peace
Source: Chronicle News Service
Jiribam, June 26 2024:
Destruction and torching of abandoned Meetei houses in Borobekra sub-division of Jiribam continued even as a massive rally in the district headquarter on Wednesday called for bringing back peace and normalcy in the district.
After several houses belonging to Meetei community were destroyed and torched by Kuki militants since June 6, three more abandoned houses have been either torched or destroyed by using explosives in the wee hours Wednesday.
Suspected Kuki militants also set on fire two abandoned houses in Borobekra sub-division of the district at about 2 am Wednesday while one more abandoned house was destroyed using bomb.
As per reports, Kuki militants destroyed abandoned house of one Ningthoujam Naba Singh, son of N Boroba-bu Singh of Harinagar at about 2 am Wednesday using a powerful bomb.
Later, the militants torched the abandoned house of Maibam Sarat of Goakhal, which also served as the office of Goakhal Farmers' Cooperative Society Ltd.
They also torched the house of Kh Puja Devi (Bishnupriya), wife of Kh Akash of Butangkhal Kujabon Leikai.
After the incident, a combined team of Assam Rifles and Jiribam district police inspected the destroyed and torched houses.
Notably, Kuki militants torched many abandoned Meetei houses of Lamtai Khunou, Loukoipung, Harinagar, Butangkhal and Narayanpur villages of Borobekra sub-division on the intervening night of June 7 and 8.Taking advantage of absence of adequate security deployment in the violence affected villages, Kuki militants continue to either torch or destroy remaining abandoned houses every night independently.
A guest house at Goakhal belonging to one Tongbram Subash was also destroyed by Kuki militants on June 23 using a powerful bomb.
Subash's guest house and Maibam Sarat's house destroyed by Kuki militants using bombs were located nearby.
Meanwhile, a massive rally was held Wednesday at Jiribam district headquarters jointly organised by civil society organisations and submitted a memorandum containing five points to DC Jiribam.
The rally from Jiri Ima Keithel, Babupara to DC Jiribam office at Chingdong Leikai was jointly organised by LEECHING, AJUCA, JDO, WMC Jiribam unit, AJMP, JIMPAL, WWOK, WASED and LWW.
Participants of the rally held banners inscribed with slogans such as 'Deploy state forces immediately at Borobekra sub-division', 'IDPs must be returned to their respective houses', 'reconstruct the burned houses', 'Restore peace in Jiribam' and 'Don't play divide and rule policy' apart from shouting slogans like 'No separate administration', 'No distortion of territorial integrity of Manipur', 'Foreigners cannot be land owners' and 'Go back Chin-Kuki'.
As the rally reached DC Jiribam office complex, a five-point memorandum addressed to the DC was submitted to ADC Jiribam currently holding DC in-charge.
The memorandum demanded immediate deployment of state forces at Borobekra sub-division, return of displaced persons currently sheltered at relief camps to their respective houses, construction of burnt houses, restoration of peace in Jiribam as before and there should be no divide and rule policy politically, socially and economically.
While submitting the memorandum, representatives of CSOs led by AJUCA -president S Maipaksana discussed demands mentioned in the memorandum point-by-point with ADC Jiribam.
After submitting the memorandum, S Maipaksana told media persons that law and order in Jiribam remains total failure since June 6 and state forces are yet to be deployed in violence hit villages of Borobekra sub-division though deployed adequately in town areas of Jiribam.
Terming as unfortunate absence of the DC Jiribam in-spite of tense situation in the district, S Mai paksana said DC Jiribam should station in Jiribam at the present crucial period, rather than taking leave on medical ground.
He also condemned the government for granting leave to the DC and demanded action against DC Jiribam.
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