Crackdown on Kuki militants or resign: COCOMI
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 18 2024: The Central Government must launch a military crackdown on Kuki militants who have broken SoO ground rules and bring an end to the conflict, otherwise all the 50 MLAs of the State excluding the 10 Kuki MLAs must resign, said Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) coordinator Thokchom Somorendro today.

He said this to reporters at Khwairamband Keithel where an indefinite sit-in protest has been staged denouncing the inability of the Centre and the State Government to protect lives and properties of the citizens of Manipur.

Crackdown on Kuki militants or resign: COCOMI

Earlier, he said, COCOMI had urged the MLAs and Ministers to make a concrete stand within 24 hours to resolve the ongoing crisis, and a decision was taken to strengthen the stir in case the elected Members fail to take a stand.

However, COCOMI received a letter from the Chief Minister's Secretariat yesterday night asking the committee to give the MLAs and Ministers including the Chief Minister time till 6 pm of November 18 (today) to discuss the situation and take a resolution.

As the Chief Minister's Secretariat has written a letter asking for time, COCOMI is willing to give them some time.

So, the decision to strengthen the stir has been put off for some time, Somorendro said.

The COCOMI coordinator further stated that the Centre and State Government have done very little to address the conflict, and this is very unfortunate.

While the people were urging the Centre and the State Government to act swiftly and rescue the six abducted persons, their inaction led to brutal murder of the women and children, he said.

Commenting on the reimposition of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), he said it has clearly exposed the "proxy war" being waged by the Centre against Meitei village volunteers who are defending their villages and the people from the onslaught of the Kuki militants.

Somorendro commented on incidents in Jiribam and stated that Senior SP (Combat) Nectar has allegedly shot and killed a student named Athouba and injured another.

This incident has the potential to cause internal rife and pit Meiteis against each other.

The State Government must understand the sentiment of the people and act accordingly in the case, he said.

On the other hand, the Congress and the BJP are competing to gain political mileage out of the conflict.

This is unfortunate as it has "the potential to create rift among ourselves", he said.

The Kuki militants have broken SoO ground rules and killed many innocent civilians.

The Centre must crack down on the groups.

On the other hand, AFSPA that has been reimposed in parts of the valley must be withdrawn, he reiterated.

In case the Centre fails to launch a military crackdown on the Kuki militants, the 50 MLAs must resign, he said.

Somorendro also emphasised that the State officials should be sent to Silchar Medical College to observe the autopsy of the murdered hostages.