Experience the suffering with us: Villagers to CM
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 03 2023: Noting that there is relative peace in almost the entire twin capital districts, denizens of Kumbi village have urged Chief Minister N Biren Singh to step out of his comfort zone and visit the villagers residing in the periphery areas of the valley, who have been forced to sleep on the streets due to the relentless gun attacks and burning of their homes by Kuki militants.

On Friday, Thangmeiband MLA Kh Joykisan visited Kumbi and extended his support to the weary locals and spent the night with them on the road.

Speaking to newspersons in this regard, MLA Joykisan clarified that he was not sent by the government but visited Kumbi due of his inner call to help the people.

Experience the suffering with us: Villagers to CM

He then reminded the people of the resilience of the Meitei community and expressed firm belief that 'we would all be able overcome the prevailing situation'.

One Moirangthem Indu Devi, who is one of the many Kumbi villagers spending the night at Kumbi Bazar due to fear of attack by Kuld militants, conceded that it would be extremely difficult to trust central security forces to protect them when media persons and fire service personnel have not been spared.

The violence may have ceased in Imphal but there has been continuous attacks and burning of homes along the periphery areas of the valley and at the foothills.

One can't help but notice that attitude of the central forces is to incapacitate one party involved in the fight while encouraging the other to continue hurting the other.

Thus, she urged CM Biren to stop speak-ing about peace from his safe seat in Imphal and instead visit the affected villagers.

He should also experience first-hand Kuki militants attacking civilians under the guard of the army and help the people who are tired of defending from both the army and the Kuki militants.

Indu continued that if the government is unable to act, there is no difference in the civilians being killed by the army or the Kuki militants.

Thus, the government soldiers should freely kill the civilians.

She then said that it was unfortunate that union home minister Amit Shah made selective visit of the affected areas.

If the government continues to ignore the plight of the people, there will be no other choice than for the people to blindfold their eyes and stand in the middle of the road to be run over by vehicles, she expressed.

Meanwhile, MLA Kh Joykisan, Kumbi MLA Sanasam Premchandra, Bishnupur district SP Herojit Meetei and personnel of Maratha Regiment attended a public meeting with Kumbi denizens at Laisha Shanglen, Kumbi on Friday evening during which the importance of central forces in driving out Kuki militants considering the low manpower and weapons of state police was stressed.

As such, an appeal was made to the people not to obstruct the movement of central forces.

However, no definite resolution on whether to allow the central forces to enter the area or not was not taken during the meeting.

MLAJoykisan also visited Phayeng on Sat-urday, which faced attack by Kuki militants on Friday, and spent the night with the locals.