Hundreds of people across Kangpokpi came out along the National Highway-2 today to protest against the attack at New Keithelmanbi and the torching of houses at L. Jangnomphai village allegedly by the armed Meitei militants.
The protest rally held under the aegis of the Committee on Tribal Unity Sadar Hills Kangpokpi District along the National Highway 2 at Bongmol village begs Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit them at least for five minutes purely on humanitarian grounds keeping aside politics.
The CoTU’s protest rally also vehemently negated and condemned the narrative of the Meitei that the Kuki militants attacked them and created violence in the New Keithelmanbi areas.
CoTU’s General Secretary, Lamminlun Singsit said that on October 4 evening at around 10:30 p.m., the armed Meitei groups disguised in security uniforms set ablaze their own Meitei farmhouses at Moidangpok to look as if it was done by the Kukis and later indiscriminately attacked New Keithelmanbi areas in the buffer zone which was resisted by the central forces who manned the vulnerable areas.
He continued that a violent confrontation occurred between the Gorkha Regiment and the Meitei armed groups, but, instead of retreating, the Meitei armed groups took refuge in the border area during the night and renewed their attack in the wee hours of the next day on October 5.
He clarified that the fresh firefight was between the Meitei armed groups and the central security forces who resisted the attack and it was not between the Kuki Village Volunteers and the Meitei armed groups as narrated by the Meitei community.
He also said that at least five houses belonging to the Kuki-Zo community including a residence belonging to one Kuki-Zo AR personnel at New Keithelmanbi and another four houses at L. Jangnomphai village, near New Keithelmanbi along the National Highway-37 was burnt to ashes during the violent incident.
CoTU Women Wing’s Convenor, Neinu said that such an act of unceasing terror committed by the Meitei terrorists in attacking and burning down the Kuki-Zo houses at New Keithelmanbi and L. Jangnomphai village even after five months is unacceptable.
She continued that the Kuki-Zo people will no longer tolerate the superior mentality of the majority Meitei community.
She then appreciated the Central security forces for their swift action and sought sympathy to provide complete security to prevent such a terror attack in the future.
Questioning the accountability and sincerity of the Union Home Minister, Neinu said that it has already been more than five months now and why is the Union Home Minister unable to control the communally motivated Meitei mobs and militant groups in attacking our people and burning our houses.
She then said that the Kuki-Zo people demand the Centre to sort out our political aspirations at the earliest.
CoTU’s Media Cell Coordinator, Ng. Lun Kipgen said that Meitei’s narrative of being attacked by the Kuki militants and protesting at Imphal is nothing but to gain sympathy and attention from the Centre while the reality is they are the ones who keep on attacking us till today since the mayhem began on May 3.
He said that the Kuki-Zo people were not good actors like them but law-abiding citizens who trusted in the law, who knew there was a Constitution, judiciary, and a system, so, we did not protest like them even when our Kuki-Zo women were paraded naked and gang-raped.
“But, their false narrative has become intolerable, so, we want the Prime Minister to at least visit us even for five minutes purely on humanitarian grounds keeping aside politics”, Lun added.
“If the Centre sincerely wants to placate the issue in Manipur, it’s high time the Prime Minister needs to come to the state”, he further added.
He also said that in the absence of President’s Rule, we have demanded Article 355 to be implemented in the state but what has happened, the Centre is taking a prescriptive policy of giving suco to one community over the other.
“Are we, not Indians?”, asked Kipgen while urging the Centre to keep aside politics and get the system in Manipur in order as there is no system in the state.
He also pointed out that it is time the Union Home Ministry must take proactive actions and act swiftly in order to have peace in the state.
“Don’t play politics, keep your state, and the country intact, whether it is the other community or the Kuki-Zo community, to have a complete nation, it is time for the centre to control, not balkanize the state”, he added.
He also urged the Centre to instruct the incumbent Government under the leadership of N. Biren Singh to stop what he is doing.
“Do it right, we will support you and vote for you”, he added.
The protestors shouted slogans, “We want Justice”, “we want Separate Administration”, “Stop false allegations”, “Stop false narratives”, etc.
