'Prevent influx'
Source: The Sangai Express

Moirang, November 19 2023: Claiming that everyone knows about the issue along Indo-Myanmar border areas except the Central forces, the Apunba Manipur Kanba Ima Lup (AMKIL) president Ima Nganbi has categorically stated that there is no point in deploying large companies of security forces in the State if they cannot detect and prevent the influx of Chin-Kuki people from Myanmar to Manipur.

Not being able to carry out a counter insurgency programme is another thing as it depends on the instruction from the higher ups, but the security forces should at least prevent the influx of foreigners to Manipur illegally and report the development at the border areas to the Government, she added.

The influential woman activist made the remarks while taking part in the ongoing protest demonstration staged near Sagang Bazar against the reported attempt to station Central forces at Sagang.

Reportedly, womenfolk from surrounding villages of Sagang including Kom women and Meetei Pangals have been protesting at Sagang Bazar continuously since November 11 .

The protesters claimed that Sagang, though in Churachandpur, is a valley area.

Speaking to the media by the sideline, Ima Nganbi said that even civilians have not been spared amid the ongoing conflict in Manipur and as such the people should be vigilant.

Saying that they used to treat Kuki people as their own and didn't mind nor say anything when their militant groups entered into Suspension of Operation (SoO) pact with the Government, she said that they were compelled to tag Kuki militant groups and their associates as terrorists as they wage all-out war against Meeteis.

Ima Nganbi further said that Kuki militants have been doing whatever they want despite being signatories of SoO agreement, let alone stay at designated camps.

She also claimed that the Central forces have been standing like a stick instead of safeguarding lives and the properties of the people amid the conflict.

What the Meeteis have been fighting is for the entire Manipuri people irrespective of their ethnicity and to safeguard the land and resources of the State, Ima Nganbi added.

Saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been maintaining a studied silence on Manipur violence and he spoke only about the naked parade of two Kuki women despite knowing what actually happened on May 3 at Churachandpur, Ima Nganbi continued that Narendra Modi is unfit to be the Prime Minister as he only speak about one side.

She asked why the Prime Minister is not uttering a single word about the horrors the Meetei women had gone through.

Members of Apunba Nupi Lup (ANUL) Bishnupur , Nongchup Imphal Palem Ima Apunba Lup (NIMPAL), Apunba Manipur kanba Ima Lup (AMKIL), Nongpok Leingak Apunba Nupi lup (NLANL) and Khwairamband Keithel Semgat Sagat Lup (KKSSL) were also present.

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