Raj Bhavan, CM bungalow no longer safe : INDIA Bloc
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 02 2024: With Kuki-Zo militants now using drones to bomb selected targets, the Raj Bhavan as well as the Chief Minister's bungalow are no longer safe, stated former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi.

A team of INDIA Bloc today submitted a memorandum to the Governor on the Kuki-Zo militants' new warfare of bombing civilian areas using drones.

The memorandum was submitted to the Governor's Secretary as Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya is currently outside the State.

The memorandum pointed out that both the Government of India and the State Government have failed to protect the lives and properties of Manipuri citizens, and the new warfare of aerial bombing has threatened National security.

Raj Bhavan, CM bungalow no longer safe : INDIA Bloc

Later speaking to media persons at the Congress Bhavan, CLP leader and former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi said it is a matter of grave concern that Kuki militants have started killing civilians with aerial bombing from drones just like what is witnessed in Russia-Ukraine and Hamas-Israel wars.

If BJP's double-engine Governments of the Centre and the State are committed, they could have stopped the Manipur violence months back, Ibobi said.

It is a Constitutional responsibility of the State Government to protect the life and properties of the people but the State Government has failed in its Constitutional duty.

Now people have started asking whether there is an elected Government in Manipur or not, the former Chief Minister remarked.

With Kuki militants now using drones of high technology to bomb civilians, the violence in Manipur is becoming more critical, he said.

As drones can bomb any place, there is no such thing as safe zone in Manipur.

This is indeed a serious threat to the National security, Ibobi said.

He went on to ask who will protect citizens when even the Raj Bhavan and the CM bungalow are no longer safe.

On the other hand, the State Government has been making all kinds of incoherent statements without doing anything concrete to bring the crisis to an end.

Noting that a young woman was killed while her minor daughter sustained injuries when Kuki militants bombed Koutruk from drones yesterday, Ibobi asked where have the State security forces deployed there gone.

Questioning the Modi's Government failure to take up any concrete action to bring the crisis to an end, Ibobi said that the Prime Minister is indifferent to the protracted crisis because he does not care about Manipur at all.

The State Government too has been watching silently even after Kuki militants have launched attacks at different places with or without drones including Sugnu and Sinam, he decried.

CPI Manipur State Council former Secretary L Sotinkumar said it is now very clear that the Government of India is standing on the side of the Kuki narco-terrorists.

It is said that Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya will be out of Manipur till September 15.But considering the fact that Manipur is now burning, he ought to come back and stay put at Imphal, Sotinkumar said.

He went on to ask why the CRPF troops deployed at Koutruk did not fire a single bullet toward the Kuki militants when they bombed and killed civilians using drones.

The Government of India is responsible for the village volunteers arming themselves to fight the Kuki narco-terrorists, Sotinkumar said.

N Biren does not care about the people's suffering and is satisfied as long as he is not removed from the Chief Minister's seat, Sotinkumar said.

There are also reports of the Government of India weighing the option of carving out a territory for the Kukis.

If these reports are true, the integrity of Manipur and its territorial boundary will be destroyed.

But INDIA Bloc and the people will fight every attempt to destroy the integrity of Manipur, he said.

AICC's CWC Member Gaikhangam, deputy CLP leader K Ranjit and CPI(M) MSC Secretary Ksh Shanta were also present at the press meet.