Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, April 08 2010:
T Leisemba, Secretary, Publicity of the outlawed Revolutionary People's Front (RPF), has said that one MS Arunkumar, a Major of Assam Rifles (AR) has committed sinful acts of desecration of the sacred abode of Ima Nongpok Panthoibi at Kwatha village.
In a press release mailed to the press today, T Leisemba said that at present, not only the said Force has forcibly occupied the abode of the veneered Goddess but also the sole Public Health Sub Centre of the village in the vicinity.
Repeated pleas to the Assam Rifles by the villagers to desist from continued occupation of the area bears no positive result and on the contrary intimidating gestures including threat to life and liberty of the villagers are shown constantly.
He further stated that besides the villagers are not allowed to carry out any economic activities viz, agriculture, ferrying out to jungles for daily essentials without their consent and permission.
In the name of counter insurgency operation and looking after border affairs the villagers are forcibly used as guides and bearers by this occupational force without any remuneration.
The villagers are not in a position to highlight their grievances for fear of reprisal from the Assam Rifles.
Thus the right to expression of freedom of the villagers is compromised at the altar of arms.
The traditional right of access to forest products and agricultural activities enjoyed by the people of Kwatha had been denied by Major MS Arunkumar and his gang of scoundrels putting into grave risk for the people leading a normal life there, the press release stated.
It further said that though India claims itself to be a proponent of secularism and largest democracy what one witnesses here is nothing but continued desecration of sacred places of worship of the Manipuris through deployment of a large number of armed forces.
It was in the recent past that they were forced to leave sacred Kangla, having faced wrath of the people.
Besides, the security forces continue to forcibly occupy, desecrate and defile many places in the land which are related with the tradition, religion and culture of the Manipuri people.
However what is more worrying and a matter of grave concern is the fate of the girls of Kwatha village as they may fall prey to the security force, the press release added.