Withdraw AR demand raised
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 24 2023: A large number of people today took a collective decision to drive out Assam Rifles from Kanglatongbi area.

AR troops stationed at Motbung have been occupying Kanglatongbi area of Imphal West district and they have been posing serious hurdles to the movement of civilians, particularly the Meitei people.

AR troops have been stationed at Motbung even before the violent crisis erupted on May 3 .

After the violent crisis erupted on May 3, BSF troops have been stationed at Kanglatongbi Forest office at the request of the people of Kanglatongbi.

Even though the BSF troops have been providing security to the local people, AR troops crossed Kanglatongbi bridge and opened a post at Kanglatongbi Bazar road.

Now they have been posing serious hurdles to the movement of Meitei people.

Apart from subjecting the Meitei people to frisking and checking every now and then, the AR troops have been warning the Meitei people not to cross Kanglatongbi bridge toward Motbung.

With the people's displeasure and anguish multiplying every passing day, a huge public meeting was held today at Kanglatongbi Bazar.

The meeting deliberated on the harassment meted out to Meitei community on daily basis by Assam Rifles troops and possible measures to address it.

On learning about the meeting, people from different areas including Meira Paibis came to Kanglatongbi and joined the meeting which started at around 10.30 am.

People from Maharabi, Sekmai, Tengdongyan, Loitang, Khonghampat, Khabam Lamkhai, Potsangbam, Wabagai and Leikinthabi too participated in the meeting.

The meeting adopted four resolutions, the foremost being withdrawal of Assam Rifles from Kanglatongbi area.

No drones should be used in Kanglatongbi area of Imphal West without giving prior information to the people, reads the second resolution.

Infringement into people's privacy by using drones should be stopped at once, it said.

The third resolution says that harassment and humiliation of civilians by AR troops in Kanglatongbi area of Imphal West district where there are enough BSF and CRPF troops should be stopped at once.

Awarding befitting punishment to any one who is found passing information to Kukis or acting in suspicious manner was the fourth resolution of the meeting.

After the meeting, the huge crowd shouted many slogans like "Go back, Assam Rifles", "Withdraw Assam Rifles from Kanglatongbi area of Imphal West", "Withdraw Assam Rifles from Manipur", "Long live Manipur", "Integrity of Manipur is non-negotiable" etc.

Notably, AR troops were present at Kanglatongbi Bazar from the beginning till the end of the meeting as usual.

Even as the large crowd demanded the AR troops to go back to their Motbung station, the AR troops refused to move saying that they were doing their duty there on the order of their superior officers.

This resulted in a tense stand-off between the two sides.

Later, the Imphal West SP came to the scene and talked with the people.

After talking in the presence of the Imphal West SP, the AR troops agreed to withdraw from the area.

Later, the people dug out the particular road using an excavator (JCB) .

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