Many condemn assault of Kom leader
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 04 2023: Federation of Civil Society Organisation (FOCS), Federation of Haomee and Khongnangpokpi Village Authority strongly condemned the brutal assault of Kom Union Manipur president Serto Ahao Kom by Kuki militants.

In a release, FOCS recounted that Serto was assaulted by cadres of Kuki Independent Army (KIA) after abduction from Chingkhei village near Thinungei while he was heading to his native village in Khoirentak from Imphal on July 31 and demanded the state government to arrest the Kuki militants and give befitting punishment to them.

Maintaining that the assault on Serto Ahao Kom is not an assault on Kom community but to the whole indigenous community settling in Manipur by illegal immigrants, FOCS said that the attempt of illegal immigrants from across the border to subjugate minority indigenous community like the Kom is unacceptable and FOCS will fight it with tooth and nail, Asking the government of India to stop harbouring/breeding Kuki militants, the release also vehemently condemned the incident in which several women were hurt in crackdown by the Assam Rifles on womenfolk who were protesting against the mass burial of bodies of slain Chin-Kuki 'terrorists' at Torbung Bangla on Thursday.

In a separate statement, Federation of Haomee also condemned the assault of Serto Ahao Kom intended to create fear among the indigenous communities of Manipur.

Kom is a minority community which has been upholding its identity since time immemorial.

Since the eruption of the communal violence in the state on May 3 last there have been attempts to drag in Kom community in the conflict which is very unfortunate and should be avoided.

If at all the Kom community has been affected by the communal clash, they should be immediately made to take shelter in relief camps, the release added.

Meanwhile, Khongnangpokpi village authority chairman S Manishek Kom, in another press release has also condemned the act in the strongest terms and said that Serto Ahao Kom has never stood against the wishes of the people of Khongnangpokpi village and has been taking up activities for the welfare and development of the Kom community.

Kom community should not be forcefully drag into the current communal conflict, the release said and also appealed all communities in the state to help the Kom community to enable restore peace and tranquillity in Manipur.

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