Time frame to return home demanded
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 01 2023: The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) and displaced people have sought a time frame from the Government to facilitate their return to Moreh and Churachandpur districts.

The demand was made during a massive sit-in protest held at Akampat which demanded resettlement and return of displaced folks to Moreh.

The sit-in staged along Singjamei Kongba Road was participated by survivors of the violent conflict who have been displaced from Moreh and staying at Ideal College relief camp.

COCOMI leaders including its coordinator Jeetendra Ningomba, members of Meetei Council Moreh (MCM) and several civil society organisations participated in the sit-in.

Speaking to the people in the sit-in demonstration, Jeetendra Ningomba said it is unfortunate and unacceptable that sections of people led by illegal immigrants have forced the indigenous Meiteis to flee their homes and villages.

The Meiteis of Churachandpur and Moreh have been forced out of their homes and they have been made to flee for their lives.

They are now taking shelter at relief camps facing immense difficulties.

The displaced people want to return to their villages and homes in Moreh and Churachandpur.

The Government should give a timeframe for effecting their return and resettlement to Moreh and Churachandpur, Jeetendra said.

He continued that the killing of SDPO Chingtham Anand Kumar in Moreh yesterday was very saddening.

Jeetendra claimed that COCOMI has the information about persons involved in the attack.

"COCOMI has information on who were involved in the incident.

If the Government asks, we will provide the information," he said.

Jeetendra said the killing of a law enforcement police officer is a challenge.

The Government and the people shouldn't remain silent, he said.

State security forces who were airlifted on October 14 were blocked from entering Moreh [until yesterday].

Those who had blocked the entry of the security forces who were there to maintain law and order can't be called persons who want law and order to prevail, he said.

He said COCOMI members want to go to Moreh with the displaced folks and understand the situation in the border town.

He said the present conflict was born as a result of the Government's strict action against illegal immigrants, drugs and poppy cultivation and actions taken up to protect Reserved and Protected Forests.

Those who encourage illegal immigration and protect the illegal immigrants are against implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC), he added.

Earlier, drugs coming from the Golden Triangle had threatened the youths.

Now, the illegal immigrants and those who support them are cultivating opium poppy in Manipur harming the youths and the people of the State, Jeetendra Ningomba said.

Now, the illegal immigrants and their supporters have cleansed Meiteis from various places driven by their intentions to break Manipur.

They are playing the victim card before the world to gain support and to propagate their false narratives and show Manipur in the wrong light, Jeetendra said.

Instead of cracking down on these people who want to break Manipur, India is, unfortunately, playing geopolitics without taking any positive steps, said Jitendra.

"Many Kukis are working in top offices of the Government including the Prime Minister's Office.

Many are in the Indian Foreign Service.

There is suspicion if they have been given the "key" by the Government," said Jeetendra.

Committee on Protection of Meitei Victims, Moreh chairman Leishangthem Inaocha said even after nearly 6 months, the Government has not yet taken up any concrete steps to allow the return of the displaced people to Moreh and Churachandpur.

"Additional forces were successfully rushed into Moreh only after SDPO Chingtham Anand Kumar was killed.

Was the Government waiting for more Meiteis to die before sending the required security forces to maintain law and order in Moreh?" he asked.

The construction of prefabricated houses shows that the Government isn't willing to allow the displaced people to return to Moreh and Churachandpur for now, he said.

For the Government to act, it is time for people to start noncooperation movement, he added.

Meitei Council Moreh secretary Leishangthem Brojen said at present there is clear evidence showing two separate administrations for the hills and the valley.

The situation worsened to this because the State forces were not given the power they needed, he said.

State forces should be given the power they need to successfully operate and control unwanted incidents in Moreh and Churachandpur, he added.

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