Discussion held on importance of VVFs
Source: Chronicle News Service
Kakching, October 04 2023:
WF Elangkhanpokpi and Khoiyum Meitei Divinity in association with Coordination of Kakching District VVF organised a one-day discussion on importance of Village Volunteers Force (VVF) in the present situation in Manipur, at Elangkhanpokpi Mamang Meepunshang in Kakching district on Wednesday.
Waikhong ZP former member Ch Indrajit and Waikhong GP former pradhan Wangkhem Brojen attended the programme as chief guest and president respectively.
EPYC president Elangbam Kesho and DYA president Wangkheimayum Sarat were also present at the meeting as guests of honour.
People from different parts of Kakching district including leaders of Langsai Thouna Kakching participated in the public convention.
Floral tributes were paid to victims of the crisis and those killed while defending the Kuki aggression.
A two-minute silence was also observed in honour of the departed souls.
Addressing the gathering, WF Elangkhanpokpi commander Irom Ibungosana said that the main objective of organising the public convention is to understand the importance of village volunteer force and their role in protecting innocent lives and territory of the state in the present crisis.
Narrating how WFs came into existence, he said that after burning around 300 houses in Torbung Bangla areas in the afternoon of May 3, Chin-Kuki mobs snatched weapons from Churachandpur police station the same evening, and then started vandalism, destruction of Meetei temples and Meetei houses in Churachandpur from around 6 pm followed by armed assault.
Following the act of ethnic cleansing carried out by the Chin-Kuki mobs and militants, Meetei villagers defended their villages and consequently started to form WFs, which is similar to 'Keiroi', a voluntary village defence force during early kingdom period.
As of now, almost all the Meetei villages, especially those in the foothill areas, have their own WFs.
Most of the villages in Kakching district have their own WFs with close coordination with their respective local clubs and committees.
Till today, the WFs are functioning without any assistance from the government, he said.
Along with the WFs, Meira Paibi members are also spending sleepless nights in the defence of their respective villages keeping vigil of any offensive from the Kuki narco-terrorists.
However, these WFs need firearms to fight the heavily armed narco-terrorists.
Unfortunately, the government stopped issuing gun license to the public and it severely affects the Meetei community, who are not only defending their villages but also the reserved & protected forest, territorial integrity and natural resources of the state, he said.
He further said that the WFs are not ready to accept that the crisis is over.
It will be over only when the displaced people could return to their respective homes and rebuild their lives without any threat with full support and compensation from the government, he said.
Speakers emphasised the role of WFs in the present situation of the state while expressing the facts surrounding the formation of WFs following the failure of the government security agencies to safeguard the fives and properties of the public.
They also observed that the WFs are not against the Central security forces but against the Kuki aggressors.
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