Station minister in Jiri till situation stabilises: Nupi Marup
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 19 2024: Taking serious note of the prevailing unrest situation in Jiribam and hardships being faced by internally displaced families following outbreak of violence in the aftermath of the brutal murder of a Meetei farmer by Kuki militants on June 6, All Manipur Nupi Marup has demanded the government to station a minister in the district until the situation there normalises.

In a statement, the women's organisation took note of the fact that after remaining relatively peaceful for over a year, violence broke out in the border district on June 6 after 59-year-old farmer Soibam Saratkumar was found brutally murdered by Kuki militants.

In an angry reaction, Meetei mob torched a couple of abandoned Kuki houses in Uchathol whereas Kuki militants reacted by bombarding civilian areas and setting ablaze three police outposts, four forest beat offices and over 70 houses in Meetei villages like Lam1 tai Khunou, Bhutangkhal, Harinagar and Modhupur.

Shockingly, the Kuki militants, who were engaged in gunfight with IRB personnel deployed there, retreated as soon as a team of Assam Rifles showed up there.

Moreover, Assam Rifles pressurised the Meetei residents of the villages to evacuate, after which Kuki militants continued their arson, alleged the statement, while questioning motive and intention of the Assam Rifles.

The statement further cited past instances of Kuki militants retreating from gunfight with state police upon arrival of AR teams and said that such incidents have led the public to be become suspicious of an undisclosed understanding between the two.

CSOs and several organisations have raised their voices against conduct of Assam Rifles, the statement said, while demanding the government to replace Assam Rifles with CRPF or any other impartial central forces at the earliest.

The Lup also criticised the chief minister for cancelling his proposed visit to Jiribam and demanded him to station a minister in the district until the situation could be stabilised, adding that such a step could bolster the efforts of restoring peace in the district inhabited by people of many communities.

The organisation further demanded the government to bring back the displaced people, who fled to Assam, and ensure a safe environment in their respective villages.

Such an initiative, coupled with deployment of adequate number of state security forces, can also neutralise nefarious policy of Kuki-friendly central forces, the statement added.

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