Give more teeth to State forces at Moreh : FOCS
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 10 2024: After a viral video of Kuki womenfolk physically confronting and preventing State security forces from conducting operations in Moreh emerged on social media platforms, Federation of Civil Society Organisations (FOCS) has urged the Government to give the security forces additional power.

The State security forces stationed in Moreh should be given additional power to enable them to conduct normal duties and enhance their operational capabilities, said the Federation of Civil Society Organisations (FOCS) in a statement today.

Notably, the State security forces were conducting an investigation regarding the abduction and brutal assault of a driver and handyman when the personnel were confronted by womenfolk and prevented from carrying out their duties.

The driver and handyman, both belonging to the Meitei Pangal community, were brutally beaten by suspected Kuki militants near Moreh College on March 7 on the charge of helping the State security forces stationed in Moreh.

The two were returning after delivering sand for construction of a barrack at Moreh Police IB .

Besides assaulting the two, the suspected militants also burnt the truck they were driving.

The incident happened as a radical organisation in Moreh warned locals and all individuals in Moreh against helping State security forces.

The organisation had even told shops not to sell water to the cops.

Meanwhile, Moreh police station had taken up a case regarding the assault on the driver and the handyman and were conducting a spot investigation yesterday when they were confronted by the womenfolk belonging to the Kuki community.

The viral video shows women making derogatory and demeaning remarks against the State security personnel and physically pushing them.

The video shows the State security personnel engaging in a calm and professional manner.

In the statement issued today, the Federation of Civil Society Organisations (FOCS) said the Kuki womenfolk confronting the State security forces was a part of "illegal immigrants' effort to drive out the State forces from Moreh town" .

It was an attempt to degrade and demean the morale of the State security forces who are in the border town to maintain law and order, it said.

The State Government must give additional power to the State security forces in Moreh to enable them to perform their duties freely, FOCS added.

Pointing out the difficulties the State security forces in Moreh area are facing, FOCS stressed that there has been a warning issued by an organisation of the "illegal immigrants" asking locals not to help the State security forces sell them even water.

Considering the circumstances and situation in Moreh, the State Government should look after the needs of the security forces and provide them all they need, said FOCS.

The State Government shouldn't remain silent when people have been tortured and brutally assaulted for helping security forces in Moreh.

The Government must take up appropriate actions to punish the "immigrants" involved as per the law, said FOCS.

It may be noted that the Manipur Meitei Pangal Welfare Organisation (MMWO) had earlier urged the Government to book and arrest all culprits involved by March 13 or face intense agitation.

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