Empower Cdos to be pro-active : Joykumar
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 09 2024: Categorically stating that Central forces would not be able to rein in the armed Kukis who have been waging a war to drive out Meitei residents and take control of Jiribam, National People's Party (NPP) National vice-president Yumnam Joykumar has asserted that police commandos must be allowed to act pro-actively and authorised to carry out pre-emptive strikes before they are attacked by armed Kukis.

Speaking to media persons at their Naoremthong office today, former DGP and Deputy Chief Minister Y Joykumar noted that the violence subsided remarkably during the Lok Sabha elections and people were thinking that peace was eventually returning to Manipur but Kuki militants launched a deadly attack at Jiribam a few days after the election results were declared thereby shattering all hopes of peace and normalcy.

NPP supports newly elected Lok Sabha MP Dr Bimol Akoijam's assertion that people of violence affected areas should be allowed to live at their original homes with full security instead of relocating them.

The attack at Jiribam by armed Kukis is not any random attack but a part of a well calculated plan, Joykumar said.

It is an ethnic cleansing campaign of the Kukis aimed at taking complete control of Jiribam.

It would be a devastating blow to all the people living in the valley districts if Jiribam falls in the hands of armed Kukis.

At present, Imphal-Jiribam highway is the only lifeline for the valley people, he said.

A handful of police commandos would not be able to fight the heavily armed Kukis.

Adequate strength of police commandos must be sent to Jiribam and they must be authorised to carry out pre-emptive strikes against armed Kukis, he asserted.

Only State forces who are determined to protect Jiribam and save Manipur would be able to protect Jiribam.

Central forces will never be able to protect Jiribam, the former DGP asserted.

"It was only Manipur Police, Manipur Rifles and IRB who guarded the State's entry points at Mao, Jessami, Tungjoy etc when NSCN-IM leader Th Muivah attempted to visit Manipur.

I was then DGP of Manipur and we did not take any help from Central forces", Joykumar said.

Jiribam cannot be protected by replacing the SP.

Send a team of senior police officers who can formulate effective plans against the armed Kukis, he asked the State Government.

He also urged the Government to send BSF, CRPF or para groups and teach the armed Kukis a befitting lesson.

The Chief Minister is currently at Delhi and he must try to learn how the Central Government has been handling the Manipur crisis.

The Chief Minister ought to ask the Central leaders as to why the Central forces sent to control the Manipur violence have not been doing anything against the Kuki militants, Joykumar said.

Many keen observers earlier pointed out that the large number of Central forces sent to the State were not meant to control the protracted violence but they are here on a hidden agenda, and this observation is coming true, he remarked.

It is PDF and CDF from Myanmar who are waging a protracted war in Manipur, not the Khongsais who have been living together with other communities of Manipur since the past, he asserted .

The Government must drive out all those PDF and CDF fighters who are challenging the integrity of Manipur.

Asking whether displaced people should be accommodated in relief camps permanently, the former Chief Minister urged the Government to take up rehabilitation measures without undue delay.

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