COCOMI says no to burial of narco-terrorists at Torbung
'Govt should stand firm'
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 01 2023:
The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has categorically stated that no slain Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists should be buried at Torbung Bangla, Bishnupur district.
The violent crisis besieging Manipur since the last three months was ignited by a group of people led by armed Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists by burning down forest offices and several houses belonging to the Meitei people on May 3, 2023, the COCOMI pointed out in a statement.
Since then, Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists have been attacking several Meitei villages with sophisticated firearms at fringe areas with the primary objective of taking control of these areas, it said.
There is complete lawlessness in all hill districts dominated by Kuki people.
There have been numerous incidents of burning down or vandalising Government offices/properties, bank robbery, taking possession of vehicles which do not belong to them and selling vehicles as scraps after torching/vandalising them.
Against all these criminal and unlawful activities, both the State and Central Governments are unable to take up any action.
Even those arsonists who were arrested for torching vehicles used by the RAF were set free.
It evokes a serious question whether the laws of the country are not applicable in Kuki inhabited areas or whether there is a hidden agenda, COCOMI remarked.
Most of the innocent civilians who were taken captives by unknown men could not be traced till date.
In the meantime, Meitei settlement areas of Churachandpur were levelled to the ground using heavy machinery like earth movers right under the nose of security forces.
Chin-Kuki people have already distributed the Meitei settlement areas amongst themselves, it said.
The report that the Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists killed in the violent crisis would be buried at the Torbung Bangla sericulture farm in Bishnupur district is unacceptable to the COCOMI.
There is no harm in burying the dead in Churachandpur cemetery or any other place within Churachandpur district.
If the Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists are planning to bury their dead at Torbung Bangla, they are inviting a greater war, it said.
The State Government must do everything to stop this illegal step.
Just as the Government is enforcing the laws of the land in the valley, the State Government must demonstrate that there is rule of law in the Kuki dominated areas too, COCOMI said.
The State Government should not commit the blunder of turning a blind eye to such a provocative and unlawful step, it said.
If the Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists bury their dead at Torbung Bangla, the State Government and the Government of India should take responsibility for all the unwanted consequences, COCOMI said and added that with the people of Manipur, it will take up all necessary measures to thwart the same attempt.
The Manipur Women Convention has also asked all concerned to abort the plan of burying slain Kuki militants in Torbung Bangla area.
Speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club here today, Manipur Women Convention representative Ashem Nirmala averred that the plan to bury slain Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists at Torbung Bangla is a blatant attempt to take possession of the particular area.
If the Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists bury their dead at Torbung Bangla forcibly, Manipuri women will be constrained to launch strong movements, she said.
She also condemned the inaction of Central security forces when several Meitei houses and shops were burnt down at Moreh.