Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 02:
Highlighting their plight in the wake of the army operation being launched to flush out underground activists from New Somtal and its surrounding places in Chandel district, villagers of Dingpi area have urged for suspending the operation at once even as a Wakat Meepham was staged at Keishampat Junction here today protesting disturbance caused to the normal life of the villages in the name of restoration of peace in the State.
Addressing a press conference at Manipur Press Club this afternoon, villagers of New Somtal and Dingpi area said that the people living in and around 16 villages of the area have not been able to lead a normal life following the army operation.
As a result of daily outbreak of exchange of heavy firing between the security personnel and underground activists, villagers dare not venture out in the paddy fields to harvest ripe crops.
So both sides should cease firing and make the people lead a normal life, the villagers pleaded.
In response to a question, the villagers informed that there has been no instances of casualty on the part of the villagers nor atrocities committed on the villagers by the army.
However, fearing for their lives, most of the villagers have fled to safer places.
Organised under the aegis of Manipur Forward Youth Front (MAFYF), the Wakat Meepham staged at Keishampat Junction strongly decried the army operation being launched at New Somtal and its surrounding area for the last few days maintaining that the operation being launched on the pretext of restoration of peace and normalcy in the State has rather caused untold suffering to the villagers.
Participated by around 100 representatives of various social organisations, the Wakat Meepham demanded calling off the army operation at once.
Talking to mediapersons in connection with the protest demonstration, general secretary of MAFYF Kshetrimayum Premjit contended that the ongoing armed resistance movement in the State is the direct fallout of the annexation and forceful merger of Manipur, which was an independent nation with the Indian Union in 1949.So instead of military operation, efforts should be made to find out a political solution.
Otherwise, it (army operation) would action like stirring up a hornet's nest and invite the wrath of already hard press people.
Meanwhile, while appealing to both the parties to cease firing in consideration of the suffering of the people, publicity secretary of Dingpi Area Development and Peace Committee Haopu Haokip, in a statement made available to the people has called upon all concerned for taking up necessary measures to rehabilitate the affected villagers.