Alarm raised over militarisation
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 17 2024:
The Thawai Meerel has expressed deep apprehension over the Ministry of Home Affairs' recent order for deployment of army and paramilitary forces at 55 locations across Manipur.
Speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club here this afternoon, Thawai Meerel co-convenor Paonam Sanahanbi pointed out that a huge number of army and paramilitary forces have been already stationed in the State since the Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists launched a pre-meditated offensive against the State of Manipur.
"We thought that the deployment of army and paramilitary forces would control the violence, protect citizens and ensure security of all people but all our hopes have been belied", Sanahanbi said.
The recent order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs to deploy additional army and paramilitary forces at around 55 locations in Manipur at a time when all the people have been reeling under extreme misery has evoked deep apprehensions for the worst, she said.
When the huge number of army and paramilitary forces deployed in the State have done nothing to control the violence, what would these additional forces do, she asked.
She went on to ask if the additional military forces are meant to dehumanize the people of Manipur.
"It's no time for sleep or rest or pursuing personal interests.
It's time for all of us, whether one is a member of Meira Paibi movement or civil society organisations, to adopt a common last decision" Sanahanbi said.
Nothing positive would come out when the people are surrounded by army and paramilitary forces in all directions, she warned.
All the mothers and women must come out and keep a strict vigil round the clock to save Manipur and protect village volunteers from being arrested by security forces, she said.
"Meiteis are being attacked at will from all directions.
We are surviving in the middle of a ring of fire.
We cannot just sit back and watch the attack", she said.
She expressed deep fear that the recent order to deploy additional army and paramilitary forces at around 55 locations has a sinister intention to annihilate the people of Manipur.
Presenting a report about their visit to the violence affected people of Jiribam, the Thawai Meerel convenor Thongam Dara said the people of Jiribam are now facing a very vulnerable situation.
Many of them are now living in relief camps after their houses were burnt down by Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists while many others have fled to neighbouring Assam.
Yet, all those people who fled to Assam expressed strong desire to return to Jiribam while those staying in relief camps yearn to go back to their homes even if the roofs of their houses were leaking, Dara said.
One common and urgent demand for the people of Jiribam is deployment of adequate State forces there.
They also expressed keen desire to upgrade Chotobekra police outpost and open new police outposts at Jirimukh, Leishabithol, Butangkhal, Boroikhal and Lamtai Khunou, he conveyed.
There are Kuki and Hmar villages on the road from Jiribam to Silchar but there are reports of the Government of Assam taking up strong security measures along the road so that Meitei people are not harmed while travelling along the road, Dara continued.
Late Soibam Saratkumar's son said that the details of the murderers and the registration number of the vehicle used in abducting his father were informed to the State Government through the Jiribam DC.
Despite all the points of agreement reached between the JAC and the State Government, the State Government has done nothing to nab the murderers, the bereaved son lamented.
Many CSOs and Meira Paibi Lups of Jiribam also expressed strong desire for upgrading Jiribam district hospital with adequate manpower and equipment, Dara conveyed.
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