Stop seizing arms of village volunteers: COCOMI
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 31 2024: The Women Wing of Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has called for immediate halt to seizure of weapons from village volunteers, who are trying to protect the people and land from the aggression of Kukis.

In a press meet held at COCOMI's Lamphelpat office, here, on Saturday, Women Wing co-ordinator Y Leirik Leima demanded an immediate halt to all search operations being conducted to apprehend and seize weapons from village Volunteers.

With no action being taken up against Kukis when they are attacking the Meeteis, the village volunteers had taken up the brave task to protect the people and the land.

Once the conflict ends, the mothers will take the lead in handing over the weapons from the village volunteers to the government.

Otherwise, both the central and state governments should refrain from acting against the village volunteers without guaranteeing the safety and security of the people, she remarked.

Assistant co-ordinator Luwangleima said that there is no issue in arresting those smuggling weapons or in related cases.

However, it is unacceptable to arrest village volunteers and seized their weapons, when they have been defending against the Kukis for the past 15 months, compared to the lack of action on the part of central forces during such attacks.

Both the central and state governments should stop trying to make the village volunteers "scapegoats".

Regarding the rally taken out by Kukis on Saturday, she said that closing the markets and ceasing work is not reasonable.

It is just depriving the people's rights, especially in the light of the fact that the conflict has affected the economy of the state to a large extent.

As such, she urged against closing down the markets in the future.

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