CoTU for 'DA' status in entire valley
Source: Chronicle News Service
Kangpokpi, September 27 2023:
Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), Sadar Hills, Kangpokpi district has heavily censured the notification of the Home Department s exclusion of 19 police station areas in the valley from the 'Disturbed Area' status and strongly demanded declaration of the entire valley as 'Disturbed Area' under AFSPA.
Barring areas under 19 police stations, the state government on Wednesday declared extension of 'Disturbed Area' in the state, in the wake of the prevailing law and order situation.
Strongly disapproving the Home Department's notification, CoTU said the state government has deliberately excluded the 19 police station areas of the valley districts.
Condemning the Home Department's notification, CoTU termed it as an 'irresponsible notification' which is issued for fear of mere "Public Criticism".
"The Union Home Ministry must realise that the explicit cause of the current violence is the withdrawal of disturbed areas under AFSPA in the 19 police station areas of the valley districts," CoTU said.
It also alleged that the ethnic violence which is sponsored by the state has systemically misused laws and acts to target the Kuki-Zo community.
COTU also contended that the real law and order maintaining agency of the central forces are aware of the ill motives of the state, however being devoid of their special power make them helpless and sometimes reduce it to a mere spectator.
The Committee further said that as all forms of violence emanated from the valley, it is imperative that the Union Home Ministry must instruct the state and immediately declare all valley areas as 'Disturbed Area', so that rampant violence from the valley is contained and peace is restored.