Airlifted cdos confined within AR camp, Moreh still off limits
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 21 2023: All the while the State Government has been claiming that the law and order situation in Mani-pur has improved, cops who are to enforce the law have not been allowed to enter Moreh, one of the hotspots of the current ethnic conflict.

At least 27 State forces personnel have not been allowed to enter Moreh town and they have been left stranded 3 Kms from Moreh town since October 14 .

Significantly, womenfolk of Kuki-Zo community have been staging protests against induction of additional State force in the town and they have even blocked the road to the border town.

Meanwhile, "no resettlement until political solu- tions" is one of the ultimatums, the Kuki Inpi Teng- noupal has served to the Tengnoupal district's Deputy Commissioner amid the fresh tension that has gripped Moreh following deployment of more State force in the town.

Airlifted cdos confined within AR camp, Moreh still off limits

The 27 personnel, stranded at 5 Assam Rifles camp near Kondong Lairembi, include personnel of State police commandos and India Reserved Battalion (IRB) .

One of the personnel has been evacuated to Imphal following an illness.

Posted at Moreh, the 27 personnel were airlifted by helicopter from Imphal to the 5 AR camp near Kon-dong Lairembi on October 14 .

However, after they landed at the AR camp, the personnel were blocked from entering Moreh by womenfolk belonging to the Kuki-Zo community near KLP checkpoint, located half a kilometre from the AR camp.

Since then, the 27 personnel have been staying at the Assam Rifles camp.

One of the personnel said they don't have any weapons (service weapons) with them and they are lacking clothes/lodging clothes.

As they were airlifted from Imphal Airport on a short notice, they didn't pack much clothes other than their uniforms.

The personnel are using whatever clothes they have on them to lie down at night, he said.

The personnel said they are not allowed to leave the AR camp.

The commandos and IRB already stationed in Moreh also have not been given the permission from the higher authority to come and take them, he said.

"State Government authorities are said to be in talks with the AR authorities but we have not been allowed to move out of the camp," he lamented.

He stressed that the 5 AR post is located merely 3 kilometres from the present post of the State commandos and IRB.

Hundreds of RAF personnel have been rushed to Moreh.

It will not be difficult for the Rapid Action Force (RAF), Assam Rifles and State force personnel to safely remove the blockade on the road to Moreh, he said.

"Without taking any steps to disperse the protesters illegally blocking the road and blocking us cops from discharging our law-bound duty, we have been confined within the AR camp as jail inmates.

This is unfortunate," he said.

The personnel appealed to the Government and authorities concerned to swiftly take actions and allow them to reach their station at Moreh.

Meanwhile, the Commandant of the 26 Sector Assam Rifles and security officers have held a series of talks with civil society organisations of Moreh without any solution till date.

Significantly, the Kuki Inpi Tengnoupal district has submitted a charter of demand to the Deputy Commissioner of Tengnoupal.

Notably, the first demand says "No Resettlement until Political Solutions," meaning displaced Meitei people will not be allowed to resettle until and unless a political solution is brought.

The Kuki Inpi further demanded that Kuki-Zo officers should be deployed in Tengnoupal and Moreh sub-division.

It said various check-points of Meitei Meira Paibis in Kakching Lamkhai and Wangjing which allegedly block essential commodities and medical items from reaching Moreh and Tengnoupal sub-division should be removed.

Suspecting "possible inclusion of miscreants masquerading as State forces", KIT said proper re-verification of all State forces in Moreh and Tengnoupal sub-division should be done.

KIT stated that the police commandos should be stationed inside the commando complex and they should be removed from their various outposts within Moreh town.

There should be no further induction of additional State forces in Tengnoupal and Moreh sub-division.

The State forces should be replaced by Gorkha Regiment or any other Central security forces, KIT said, demanding a written assurance/response from the DC on its demands.