Govt apathy threatening Moreh's existence
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, January 13 2024:
The continued negligence of both the union and state governments will result in the loss of a major border trading hub, Moreh, an important border town located between India and Myanmar.
After the ethnic conflict broke out on May 3 last year, the Meetei residents of Moreh had to flee for their lives when armed Kukis started setting fire to houses in the area.
Soon, Manipur Police and commando personnel were stationed in Moreh to help restore peace in the border town.
However, both Kuki CSOs and Kuki insurgents strongly protested the deployment of state forces in the town, which resulted even in the assassination of Moreh PS SDPO Anandkumar.
This led to additional deployment of state forces and commando personnel in Moreh.
Since the end of December last year, Kuki insurgents have been intensifying firing and rocket attacks on state forces, particularly Manipur Police Commandos and Special Commandos.
At present, after top, high-level officials of central, forces went to Moreh and met with the CSOs and security forces deployed in the location, following which a resolution was adopted to prevent any further violence in the area.
Although attacks on central and state forces have subsided to some extent, Kuki insurgents are using snipers to target Manipur police commandos.
As a result, whenever police commandos have to act against any attempt by Kuki insurgents to carry out unlawful activities in Moreh, the personnel are met with a barrage of bullets fired from long distance.
While the Meetei residents have fled Moreh, many other communities such as Punjabi, Marwari, Bengali, Nepali, Odia, Tamil, Muslim and others are still continuing trade activities in Moreh.
However, the ethnic violence has heavily impacted all the communities in the border town.