COCOMI sticks to demand for removal of AR
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, September 11 2023:
The women's wing of Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has reiterated its demand for removal of Assam Rifles from the state and replace it by another force.
Addressing a press meet at UCM office, Lamphelpat, here, on Monday, COCOMI women's wing executive member Wahengbam Luwangleima said that Assam Rifles was requisitioned to protect the people and territory of the state some 50 years ago.
However, the armed force has failed to secure the border and at the same time, turned its gun on the public, whom they are supposed to protect.
People from different parts of the state are openly accusing the Assam Rifles of taking side in the present conflict and there are enough evidences of their complicity and they have become 'false prophet'.
Instead of using their might in protect -ing the common people, they are turning their guns on the public.
From various events that have taken place, the suspicion of a hidden agenda at play by the Central government behind the huge militarization of the state is coming to the fore, she said.
Citing the Pallel incident, she said that the AR personnel posted there used excessive force against the civilians.
It was unfortunate for the Assam Rifles to turn hostile against those Tricolour wielding civilians at their doorstep seeking their protection from the armed attack from the hills.
Seeing the excessive and partial conduct of Assam Rifles, irate male members of the society joined the women upon which the AR personnel fired live bullets towards the civilians.
Such acts amount to indirectly helping the Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists, she contended.
Informing that COCOMI Women's Wing and every woman in the state condemn the excessive force used by Assam Rifles in the Pallel incident, she demanded the government to initiate a CBI enquiry into the incident and prosecute the personnel, who fired live rounds with the ultimate objective to kill the two civilians.
She also demanded the state government to take up necessary measures to replace Assam Rifles from the state.