Govt advised to secure Moreh
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, January 17 2024: Several bodies such as Federation of Civil Society Organisations (FOCS), Manipur Muslim Welfare Organisation (MMWO), Indigenous People's Organisation, Manipur (IPOM), Ningol Club and Manipur Women's Federation (MWF) have asked the government to despatch and deploy additional forces at the earliest to ensure that Moreh is freed from adverse elements.

In a joint press meet held at Manipur Press Club here Wednesday, FOCS president Th Manihar said that Kuki militants have been waging war for past eight months with the agenda of destroying the integrity of Manipur and exterminating the Meetei community, while both union and state governments continue to take the situation lightly.

He then expressed deepest condolences for the two personnel killed and others left injured during an attack by Kuki militants on Wednesday.

It is quite clear that the Kuki militants and narco-terrorists carried out the attacks under the shadow of the central forces, he remarked.

Since the central paramilitary forces including the Assam Rifles continue to stand by as mute spectators when Kuki militants are attacking the state forces, there is no meaning for the central forces to be present.

The continuous bystander behaviour is only deepening the suspicion on whether the attacks are being carried out in collusion with the central paramilitary forces, he said As such, the union government should recall/remove the central paramilitary forces from Moreh if they cannot defend the border or quell the conflict.

If the government continuous to feign ignorance of the people's wishes, it would not be long before Manipur truly goes up in flames.

In addition, the state government Should stop waiting for the centre, Manihar asserted, while calling upon the CM to come forward and lead the people in saving Manipur.

He continued that if both the union and state governments want peace in Manipur, they should take action and deploy additional forces in Moreh immediately.

If the central paramilitary forces cannot carry out their duty, they should be withdrawn and the responsibility handed over to the people of Manipur, who are ready to defend the state, he asserted.

IPOM general secretary Rakesh Moirangthem said that state government's clarification of Article 355 not imposed in Manipur has been proven wrong by the sheer fact that the state government is not in control of the unified command.

As such, he urged the CM and the 50 MLAs to stand for revocation of Article 355 from Manipur.

The present situation is a state subject and thus, the Home Department should be allowed to carry out its responsibility without any inhibition, he stated.

While union external affairs minister Dr S Jaishankar had already affirmed the involvement of external aggression in Manipur conflict, it is unfortunate for the Prime Minister to continue remaining silent on the issue.

If an accident occurs in Assam, the PM is swift to extend condolences, but he seems to be "terrified" of speaking anything about the conflict in Manipur, which has been raging for over eight months, Rakesh observed.

MMWO president Boboy Korimayum said that the involvement of external elements in the conflict in Manipur is an irrefutable fact.

As such, it is condemnable of the union government to continue playing deaf and dumb on the matter.

He then demanded deployment of additional state forces in Moreh at the earliest with sophisticated weapons, while further urging for allowing the Home Department to function without any restrictions.

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