Womenfolk bar entry of AR in Khurkhul, Phayeng
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 03 2023: Enraged with the burning of Meitei homes in Khurkhul despite the pres-ence of Assam Rifles in the area, a large number of worn-en from Khurkhul set up road block at Khurkhul Lamkhai and prohibited the person-nel from entering the area on Saturday morning.

The women protestors also checked all vehicles passing through and later, shouted slogan "Go Back, Assam Ri-fles".

According to one of the protestors, as it is uncertain when violence will end time has come for the leaders con-cerned not to refer from their air-conditioned rooms traffic jams in Imphal to claim peace has been restored, when the people at the periphery areas have been awake for many nights and in a restless state.

She then recalled that an Assam Rifles vehicle which came with some heavily armed group of people.

The number plate of the vehicle was smudged with mud to avoid identification.

The group tried to enter the area claiming they were from Assam Rifles but were made to go back.

However, they attempted to enter the area again a short while.

She continued that since Assam Rifles are supporting the armed Kuki militants openly, there is no need for them to guard any locality/ village.

Any village/locali-ty guarded by Assam Rifles has witnessed the burning of Meitei homes.

Thus, the vil-lagers/locals will guard their own villages/localities and the Assam Rifles should go back.

The protestor further said that since the clashes began, Kuki militants had cut off the pipe supplying water to the area.

When the club members went to repair the pipe, they were fired at resulting in many injuries.

The village is now suffering due to shortage of water, while one person has already died due to the vio-lence, she added.

The women of Phayeng also staged a road block on Sat-urday and demanded Assam Rifles to go back from the area.

One of the protestors con-veyed that the villagers were staying in the periphery of the Kuki and have been in har-mony with the community for many years.

However, the plight of the villagers since the May 3 clashes is ignored by all.

Amid this, instead of protect-ing the civilians, Assam Rifles are protecting the armed Kuki militants, who are attacking the unarmed civilians and setting their homes on fire.

She then strongly condemned Assam Rifles for helping the Kuki militants and demand-ed for an immediate solution against the militants.

Recently, there is news that a search operation would lx carried out in the Meitei in-habited areas along the foot-hills.

As such, she questioned whether the search operation would be carried out in the Kuki- inhabited areas as well, while vehemently condemn-ing any discriminatory act in the matter .

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