The Kuki Inpi Chandel has urged the concerned authority to stop the plans for establishing the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) post at Serou Lamkhai.
A press release issued on Saturday stated that the Kuki apex body in Chandel district would resort to various forms of protest if the appeal is not heeded and that it should not be held responsible for any outcome arising thereafter.
It stated that the Kuki Inpi has come to the knowledge that plans were afoot for the setting up of a permanent post for the Indian Reserve Battalion at Serou Lamkhai at the behest of some vested interest individuals.
In view of the highly volatile situation of the area, the KI Chandel said, it would like to register a strong opposition to the move of establishing an IRB post at Serou Lamkhai.
"As the credibility of the IRB and other State forces in the ongoing carnage being highly questionable, the Kuki Inpi Chandel believes that the establishment of the IRB would cause more insecurity to the people," it said.
The Kuki Inpi Chandel claimed that establishment of such IRB post would certainly bring a detrimental in the peace efforts of all concerned and stated that a partial security force is not the answer to bring in normalcy in the State as well as Serou-Lamkhai area in particular.
Even without having a permanent post in the area, the IRB personnel's collusion with Meitei militias and their complicity in launching offensive attacks on Kuki villages and population in Sugnu area was a well-known fact. And as such, the Kuki Inpi Chandel will not allow further attack on our people by the State forces, stated the press release.
If at all the need for establishing security agencies' battalions arises, neutral central para-military forces may be kept, the Kuki body said and warned that it would not remain a silent spectator to the biased attitude of the Manipur Government in setting up an IRB post at Serou Lamkhai area and other prejudiced activities of the government.
The Hills Journal
K. Salbung, Churachandpur
Manipur-795128
