Phougakchao barricade shifted
Source: The Sangai Express
Bishnupur, September 14 2023:
In a positive step to quell tension, security forces have shifted a barricade which was earlier installed near Phougakchao Ikhai Bazar to Phougakchao Ikhai Makha Leikai (Kangvai) today.
This came days after COCOMI organised a mass rally in the area on September 6 urging the Government and the security forces to shift the barricade to Torbung in the border area between Churachandpur and Bishnupur district.
While the thousands strong mass that day failed to remove the barricade, many men and women were hurt in security forces' crackdown following confrontations.
Notably, the barricade/checkpoint in Phougakchao Ikhai was installed after a mass agitation was taken out against Kuki CSOs' attempt to convert a sericulture farm area at Torbung Bangla into a graveyard for deceased Kukis on August 3 .
Today, the barricade/checkpoint near the Forest Office at Phougakchao Ikhai Bazar area was shifted to Phougakchao Ikhai Makha Leikai (Kangvai Bazar area) .
It is a little relief that the barricade has been shifted.
Even though it has been shifted, it is not exactly at the desired location of the actual border area, said a local.
The barricade has been removed but Kuki militants haven't stopped firing at Meitei settlements in the area.
The firing, however, has subsided to some extent, he said.
The local said that the barricade/checkpoint had caused immense inconvenience to the people before.
He said the people want the barricade to be placed in empty spaces and non-arable and uninhabited areas on the hills near the valley.
Building barricades in villages and farmland affects the people.
It deprives them of their homes besides ruining the vast arable fields, he added.
"When Meiteis are stopped at the checkpoint from entering their own villages and homes, Kukis have been allowed to move freely in the buffer zones," he said, accusing the Central security forces of taking sides.
The people want State security forces to be deployed in the area instead of the Central forces, he said.
Further, the last checkpoint should be installed at Bangla or Waikhurok in the border area between Bishnupur and Churachandpur, he added.