Protect people at their respective village instead of shifting for safety: MP Bimol

Imphal: “People should not be shifted from their residences for safety, they should be provided adequate securities at their respective homes for their protection from violent attacks, said newly elected MP Bimol Akoijam on Saturday.

The shifting of people away from their villages in crisis would create division. It is unconstitutional, Bimol said.

The MP was talking to reporters at his Keishamthong residence, in wake of the present violence in Jiribam, on Saturday.

He strongly condemned the incident that happened in Jiribam district of Manipur bordering Assam. He said, the violence was created by those who do not want peace and want to continue the crisis (Kuki-Meitei conflict) in Manipur for their vested interest.

It is quite surprising that such an incident occurred in the Jiribam situated at the western part of Manipur bordering Assam just after the declaration of the Lok Sabha poll results, Bimol said.

Violence in Jiribam started after a missing person (Meitei) was found beheaded on Thursday. After the incident violence has intensified in the border district and many of the villagers have been shifted to nearby safer places by security forces.

On Friday it was reported that Kukis led by Muki militants bombarded some Meitei villages and set ablaze all the properties. The displaced villagers have been taking shelter in a nearby safer place near Jiribam Police station, Manipur.

Bimol said he had contacted the district administration of Jiribam district to take necessary in order to stop those who want to continue the crisis in Jiribam of Manipur that has been remaining in peace since the violence erupted on May 3 last year.

Some people are trying to partition Manipur just like India and Pakistan which was seen in a Meitei village called Khumujamba, Churachandpur last year. The Meitei residents of Khumujamba Leikai were shifted out of their place and it was flattened, he added.

He appealed to people to be very careful and not to provoke in social media. Efforts should be made so that the violence is not aggravated by misleading posts circulating by those who want to continue the crisis.

“Let the law enforcers handle the situation as a befitting reply to any violence will be more responsible,” said Bimol.

Manipur police commandos have been airlifted to Jiribam from Kangla Fort of Imphal on Saturday as reinforcement to control the situation which turned more violent.