All the Kuki civil society organisations functioning within Jiribam and Tamenglong districts have taken a resolute stand to impose indefinite economic blockade on NH-37 till their demands are fulfilled by the concerned authority.
The blockade was announced in a joint press statement issued on Thursday by the Kuki Inpi Jiribam, Tamenglong and Noney (KIJTN) districts; Kuki Chiefs' Association, Tousem block; Kuki Inpi Women Wing, and Kuki Students' Organisation, Jiribam & Tamenglong.
As per the request of the district authorities of both Jiribam and Tamenglong, the bandh imposed a few days back on NH- 37 was suspended for two days. However, the Kukis' charter of demands has not been fulfilled in totality.
The demands placed by the Kuki civil society organisations included immediate lifting of blockade of highways by Meetei mobs led by Arambai Tenggol and Meira Paibis in Jiribam town and that medical and essential commodities should be freely made accessible to every community.
They also demanded that the concerned authority should take up the responsibility of finding L. Thianmung (40), son of (L) Luai am of Vengnuam Dibong Khunou of Jiribam, who was reportedly abducted from his house in the presence of his kids and his whereabouts unknown till today or to find his body if he had been killed.
The Kuki CSOs also demanded that the Meitei militants and Arambai Tenggol of Jiribam should be booked and removed from Jiribam and surrounding areas.
Strongly condemning the barbarous act of Police Commandos and Meetei militants in indiscriminately firing upon villagers and village volunteers of Phaitol village last night, the Kuki CSOs alleged that it was a hidden agenda of the incumbent regime led by N. Biren Singh for stoking violence in the region.
They claimed that Jiribam district has been at peace since the beginning of the Manipur ethnic crisis which broke out on May 3, 2023. The peaceful environment was initiated under the aegis of Assam Rifles, District Administrative heads of both Jiribam and Tamenglong, Kuki CSOs and other CSOs of Jiribam.
However, all those peace initiatives had been shattered to pieces when a young boy was murdered and all Kuki-Zo villages and localities in Jiribam town were burned down by Meetei militants and Arambai Tenggol, said the statement.
It added that the hidden of agenda of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh of smuggling Meetei militants and their supplies on the pretext of visiting Jiribam has now been exposed last night when combined forces of Manipur Police commandos and Meetei militants indiscriminately attacked and fired upon Phaitol villagers and the village guards.
The Hills Journal
K. Salbung, Churachandpur
Manipur-795128
