Enhance security, aid resettlement, says COCOMI
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, March 19 2024:
Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) coordinator Somorendto Thokchom has demanded the government to resolve the crisis and focus on resettlement policy by enhancing security presence.
A COCOMI team led by Somorendro, on Tuesday, visited Laikhong and Itham, where Kuki militants from nearby hills launched attack on Monday and burned JCB excavators and a Thar.
The team donated food items to the villagers during their visit.
Interacting with the media, Somorendro said that residents of the foothill villages are among the worst affected due to the crisis and yet they have been defending against the aggression from Kuki militants.
However, these people are enduring losses and staring at uncertainty due to absence of effective security measures from the government, he contended and stressed the need for enhancing security deployment in the foothill villages to ensure peaceful resettlement of the villagers.
According to a Laikhong resident Laishram Bimol, the village is bereft of electricity supply for several months amid the crisis.
Most of the villagers have fled the village, except for the able-bodied youths who are standing as the last line of defence.
The villagers are yet to get compensation for their burned houses though they have submitted relevant documents, he said while drawing attention of the government to expedite the process.
At present, the village youth and personnel of 6th Manipur Rifles are staying in the village community hall.
The youth are holding the ground fearing that living in relief camps embolden the Kuki militants to take over their village and land.
Itham resident Takhellambam Pramo said that the villagers have been standing their ground against the aggression of Kuki militants.
However, the few state security personnel deployed in the area is not enough to face the Kuki militants, who often launch attacks using bombs, she said while drawing attention of the government to increase strength of the security personnel.