Villagers trash allegations against Col Akash
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, January 30 2024: Terming as baseless and unfounded allegation levelled against 18 AR commanding officer Colonel Akash Oinam by Kuki bodies namely ITLF and CoTU, villagers of Pukhao, Sagolmang, Makeng and Dolaithabi said Col Akash and his battalion cannot be removed from the present deployment until removing all AR units from the state.

In the wake of fierce gun-fight between armed Kukis and Meetei village volunteers at Khamenlok on January 27, Kuki bodies namely Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) and Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), Sadar Hills levelled allegations against Col Akash.

However, a public meet convened Tuesday at Sagolmang Khewa community hall strongly condemned and dismissed the accusations against Col Akash by ITLF and CoTU.

The public meet attended by large numbers of villagers of Pukhao, Sagolmang, Makeng and Dolaithabi was unanimous that ITLF and CoTU levelled baseless charges against Col Akash so that newly deployed 18 AR could be put under the mercy of the Kukis just as the community did to 22 AR deployed in the area earlier.

After the public meet, United Committee Pukhao, Makeng and Dolaithabi president Thokchom Sanjoy told media persons that large numbers of people gathered at Sagolmang Khewa community hall after receiving report about possible removal of Col Akash after ITLF and CoTU levelled baseless and unfounded allegations against the Army officer.

He said that people of Pukhao, Sagolmang, Makeng and Dolaithabi villages support the demand to remove Assam Rifles from Manipur but Col Akash and his battalion cannot be removed before entire AR units from the state are withdrawn.

Since the coming of Col Akash and his battalion, peace and normalcy returned gradually in Sagolmang-Pukhao-Dolaithabi area and no violence was reported in the past seven months since deployment of the battalion.

This has been made possible due to Col Akash's sincerity and non-partisan acts to bring peace in the area, Sanjoy said.

People of Sagolmang - Pukhao - Dolaithabi area had no faith in Assam Rifles when 22 Assam Rifles based in Saikul sided with the Kukis during the initial phase of the ongoing violence erupt -ed on May 3.However, 18 AR CO Col Akash and personnel of the battalion deployed newly in the area worked sincerely without differentiating Kukis or Meeteis to bring back peace and normalcy in the area thereby regaining faith on the force gradually.

At the time when peace and normalcy is returning steadily in the area, removing the 18 AR CO or deploying another battalion could disrupt the hard earned peace and anything unwanted could happen, Sanjoy cautioned.

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