Jiri attack due to laxity : COCOMI
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 09 2024:
The recent attack on Meitei people by Kuki militants at Jiribam in which 72 Meitei houses and two police outposts were burnt was a result of Government's utter negligence and irresponsibility, asserted the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) .
Speaking to media persons at their Lamphelpat office this afternoon, COCOMI media coordinator Somendro Thokchom pointed out one may say that the Government was caught unaware or off guard when Kuki militants launched their offensive on May 3, 2023 but there was no element of surprise in the recent attack at Jiribam.
Much before the Kuki militants' attack at Jiribam, COCOMI repeatedly appealed to the Government to raise the number of IRB personnel stationed at Jiribam as well as the number of police outposts and enhance the strength of the Superintendent of Police.
But the Government did not pay any heed to the COCOMI's repeated appeals and as a result a large number of people were made victims of another violent attack, Somendro said.
At the same time, the Government of India has been waging a proxy war, he alleged.
It is quite distressing that as many as 72 houses have been burnt down and over 200 people have been rendered homeless.
What is even more distressing is the attitude of the Ministers and MLAs who have not bothered to express even the slightest concern at the deadly attack launched against helpless people of Jiribam but are putting up at Delhi to attend the swearing in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the COCOMI media coordinator remarked.
So far, the MLAs and Ministers have not bothered to come together on their own and work collectively to tackle the crisis.
Pointing out that the State's situation is very critical, Somendro appealed to all the elected representatives to give up the attitude of acting only when they are compelled by the people.
If the MLAs and Ministers do not give up their callous and irresponsible attitude to such a critical issue, it would not be long before Manipur gets fragmented.
Once Manipur gets fragments, their seats of power would vanish into thin air in no time, he said.
After evacuating all the residents, Assam Rifles allowed Kuki militants to burn down every Meitei house of Serou.
A few days after Meitei residents were evacuated from Moreh, all their unoccupied houses were burnt down.
A similar modus operandi is being employed at Jiribam, Somendro said.
He then urged the Government of India to give up its sinister agenda of exterminating civilians by supporting and promoting narco-terrorists.
There are reports of Assam Rifles barring additional State forces sent from Imphal at Jiribam, he said.
He went on to ask if there is any meaning in sending additional State forces to Jiribam if the displaced people whose houses have been burnt down could not be rehabilitated at their original homes.
"People may decide what course of action we must take against the State Government if the displaced people of Jiribam are not rehabilitated at their native villages within 10 days", he continued.
The State Government as well the Government of India which is waging a proxy war in Manipur must realise that the people have been deeply hurt and their resentment against the Government has crossed the limits, he warned.
As stated many times earlier, the recent attack at Jiribam after a long lull was a part of the Government of India's proxy war, he said.
If the Government of India does not stop its proxy war immediately, the people of Manipur would turn against both the Government of India and the State Government, the COCOMI media coordinator warned.