‘Youths unwilling to surrender arms in Manipur as militants intensify attacks’

IMPHAL: The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), an apex body of valley-based civil society organization, said that local youths were not willing to surrender arms as attacks by militants intensified.

In a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the Committee also alleged that a section of paramilitary troops remained inactive against the terrorists.

Demanding the replacement of the inactive paramilitary troopers, the organization said that the deployment of “more sincere security organizations like BSF (Border Security Force) and similar such forces at this juncture is immediately necessary to establish a sense of confidence among the masses”.

“We have witnessed the Meetei (Meitei) volunteers complying with the Home Minister’s appeal with a sense of confidence and respect for the statement of the Union Home Minister. However, it is very unfortunate that the attacks and aggression from the Kuki militants and terrorists have intensified again, and there is no sign of any retreat from their side,” the letter said.

“Concerning the gravity of the anger and losses of faith towards the words and wisdom of the Union Home Minister due to the inaction of a section of paramilitary and security personnel, COCOMI on behalf of the People of Manipur appeals to you for one last time to take up befitting action against the defiant Kuki terrorists on an emergency basis, failing which the people of Manipur, especially the Meitei community, is likely to reorganise a new wave of protest and action against those who are targeting the innocent villagers and also against those security personnel who are indirectly and openly supporting the terrorist groups.”

Criticizing the central and state governments for not being able to clear a blockade of the highways, COCOMI spokesperson Khuraijam Athouba said on Wednesday that it is a fundamental duty of the government to operate the highways.

He said that the highways, especially the Imphal-Dimapur National Highway, have been blocked by the militants and their supporters for over 30 days.

“The authority concerned should take up all necessary safety measures to lift the blockade of the National Highway and ensure smooth transportation of all essentials, including transport fuel, cooking gas, lifesaving drugs, and food grains, permanently,” he said.

Meanwhile, thousands of women under the banner of Meitei Meira Paibi, a civil society organisation, formed a human chain on Tuesday night as they marched in Imphal with torches in their hands and chanted in unison, “Long Live Manipur”. (IANS)

Also Read:Lactating mother detained for 6 days: High Court reprimands police

Also Watch: