IDPs demand full authorisation of State forces
Displaced Moreh folks stage rally
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 31 2023:
Aggrieved and anguished by the killing of SDPO Chingtham Anand Kumar, displaced persons from Moreh today took out a protest rally at Imphal.
A large number of IDPs from Moreh who are currently taking refuge at Singjamei Akampat relief camp took out a protest rally starting from the relief camp at around 2 pm.
After crossing Singjamei bridge, they were marching toward the Chief Minister's bungalow but they were stopped by a police team led by the OC of Singjamei police station.
Saying that the Meiteis are now facing an existential threat, the protesters appealed to the police team to let them continue their march at least till Moirangkhom.
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At this, the Singjamei police team allowed the protesters to march ahead.
But they were again blocked by another police team led by Imphal West SP Ksh Shivakanta at Loklaobung.
As they were not allowed to proceed any further, the protesters sat down on the road and shouted many slogans before turning back.
Apart from shouting many slogans against the Government's failure to contain Kuki terrorists and incapacitating State forces from performing their duties at Moreh, they used many placards which read as "Strengthen State force", "Control Chin-Kuki terrorist", "Stop cross-border movement of Kuki terrorists", "Integrity of Manipur is non-negotiable" etc.
One Leishangthem Tamem from Moreh who took part in the rally lamented that the death of the SDPO at Moreh could have been avoided had the Government authorised the State forces to carry out their duties efficiently.
Tamem also decried the Government's failure to take up any tangible step even after tens of thousands of Meiteis were attacked and driven away from Moreh, Churachandpur and other places by Kukis.
"If the State Government is not in a position to take up any tangible action against the Kuki terrorists, we, the IDPs from Moreh, are prepared to go back to Moreh and fight the Kuki terrorists", Tamem said.
Saying that SDPO Chingtham Anand Kumar was a dedicated police officer who worked tirelessly to protect the denizens of Moreh and promote their welfare, Tamem said that the people of Moreh are devastated by the killing of Anand Kumar.
Mutum Nganthoibi, another IDP from Churachandpur, decried that the Government has not been working sincerely to control the violence which has been raging for the past six months.
She asked the Government to give full authority to the State forces to fight the Kuki terrorists and their supporters at Moreh.
She further urged the Government to neutralise the Kuki terrorists and their supporters, and enable the IDPs from Moreh and Churachandpur to resettle at their native villages.
Kangabam Tolensana from Moreh Khunou while recalling the Chief Minister's statement that external forces have their hands in the Manipur violence, decried the Government's failure to take up any appropriate action till date.