CFJM fears worsening of crisis situation
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, July 02 2023:
The best step forward for the state gov.
ernment amid the unrest situation would be to hold firm or else the communal discord could further escalate and lead to civil war, cautioned Citizens for Justice Manipur (CFJM) chairperson Khaidem Mani.
CFJM submitted arepre sentation to the President of India urging her to look into the reports of three vehicles loaded with weapons entering the state from Myanmar and supplying the same to the Kuki insurgents operating in the state, and to further take up all necessary measures for the safety of the people of Manipur.
Addressing a press meet at Manipur Press Club on Sunday, Khaidem Mani said that over 130 people have been killed and 60,000 displaced and houses burnt ever since the violence began on May 3 .
The Imphal-Dimapur road, which is the lifeline of Manipur, continues to be blockaded by some Kangpokpi based organisa tions as if it is an economic blockade, preventing the movement of goods and passenger vehicles.
The chairperson continued that although the national highway is a subject under the centre, the state government also has the responsibility for ensuring free movement along the same.
The Manipur High Court already had issued a directive to deploy adequate security and resume the vehicular movement.
However, both the central and state governments have been unable to deploy National Highway Protection Force on the route till date, he remarked.
Mani then mentioned the news reports published on June 28 of a huge cache of arms and ammunition being smuggled from Myanmar to the hands of Kuki insurgents under SoO in Manipur.
If these reports are indeed true, just conducting a judicial inquiry is no longer feasible but the matter should be investigated in detail either by CBI or NIA.
Thus, the representation submitted to the President also enquired about the reason behind the smuggling, and the steps taken by the government till date and who was responsible for bringing in the weapons.
Mani further said that the CM should uphold his responsibilities as the leader of the people, while observing the latter's inability to take action due to the interference of the centre.
The government should hold firm the situation could get much worse once civil war sets in, he cautioned, while informing that the representation will be forwarded to other leaders of the government.