Chiefs demand protection of villages by SoO groups
Source: Chronicle News Service
Kpi, June 16 2023:
Chiefs of 10 villages of Khamenlok area have strongly condemned the torching of their houses few days back and urged the government to allow Kuki outfits under Suspension of Operation (SoO) to protect them if security forces are unable to uphold their safety concerns.
Chiefs of villages in Khamenlok area issued a clarification and strongly refuted media reports regarding the incident in the area from June
12 to 14 .
They said H Khopibung, Chullouphai, Aigejang, A Phainom, A Leikot, Khamenlok T Jordanphai, Govajang, Thombol and Songjang in Saikul sub-division of Kangpokpi district were attacked and destroyed by people belonging to Meetei community in the attack for three days from June 12 .
The chiefs also categorically described the attack and destruction as 'calculated state-sponsored designed' at displacing them from their homeland.
The chiefs then stated media houses based in Imphal have painted village volunteers to be Kuki militants and it was unfathomable for some of the reputed national media spinning the Meetei narrative of being the victims of Kuki attacks.
On the night of June 13, hav -ing learned that several armed Meeteis were seeking shelter at partly burnt Aigejang village to carry out further campaigns of destructions of the neighbouring villages, the village defence volunteers in a last-ditch attempt to thwart their design carried out a daring attack on the armed Meeteis taking shelter at Aigejang and inflicted heavy casualties mainly through piped guns.
Having exhausted all ammunition and gun powder to power piped guns, village defence volunteers retreated but armed Meeteis with the help of reinforcement burnt down all the remaining villages on June 14, they said.
The chiefs also said that an FIR oh destruction of their villages and properties shall be lodged and those responsible must be booked in accordance with the law of the land.
The chiefs also appealed to Government of India to urgently take up the issue of Separate Administration of the tribals particularly the Kukis so that no community shall ever carry out destructive campaign against any community in future.