Seizure of arms exposes fresh dimension : COCOMI
'Drug money financing narco-terrorists'
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 28 2023: The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has claimed that the State has now been exposed to another dimension of threat as Chin-Kuki militants have started smuggling arms and ammunition from Myanmar and China border amid the all-out war by narco-terrorists in Manipur.

In a statement signed by its media coordinator Somorendro Thokchom, COCOMI alleged that these narco-terrorists are earning considerable revenue through poppy plantations by engaging in widespread deforestation.

Saying that this massive poppy plantation and other forms of drug business being carried out by narco-terrorists are detrimental to both the State and the country, the Committee claimed that the drug money generated is being invested in internal politics and in procuring arms and ammunition to fulfil their aspiration of Kuki homeland or separate administration.

Claiming that these narco-terrorists take whoever stand for the unity and integrity of Manipur as their adversary and attack them by burning their houses and killing them, COCOMI alleged that there were many indications of security forces encouraging the drug businesses such as the seizure of nearly Rs 20 crore worth drug from then PRO (Defence) on February 25, 2013 .

It is known by all including the intelligence team that Chin-Kuki terrorists have a big role in the drug trade, the Committee added.

Maintaining that the report published by India Today of Chin-Kuki militants smuggling three truck loads of arms and ammunition from China-Myanmar border to Manipur at a time when the Centre, State Government and civil society organisations are working on peace is a matter of big concern, COCOMI claimed that the narco-terrorists have even procured some of the arms and ammunition looted from different places of the State.

It is questionable how the Chin-Kuki militants managed to smuggle a large consignment of arms and ammunition through the lengthy Indo-Myanmar border from China-Myanmar border, COCOMI said and rued that the security forces are busy carrying combing operation in the valley districts when there is no respite of attack on the Meeteis by narco-terrorists armed with sophisticated weapons.

Further stating that the conduct and integrity of Assam Rifles is questionable as many of the ugly episodes that have taken place in Manipur such as at Sugnu, Serou, Tairenpokpi, Leimakhong, Kangchup, Kanto Sabal, Dolaithabi, Ekou etc amid the violence were right in front of the paramilitary force, COCOMI said that the Assam Rifles should have at least protected the lives and properties targeted by the Kuki militants even if they couldn't engage in combat with the signatories of Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement.

Is the Assam Rifles openly supporting the narco-terrorists, the Committee asked.

Asking how long the Central Government and Assam Rifles are going to make its own bonafide citizens sacrificial lambs and give logistic support to Chin-Kuki militants, COCOMI continued that the problem that State has been facing since May 3 is of external aggression.

The Committee then urged the Government of India to withdraw Assam Rifles from Manipur at the earliest as people no longer trust them.

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