Imphal: Lok Sabha MP from Inner Manipur, Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, has strongly criticised the enforcement of what he termed an “imaginary and unconstitutional buffer zone” in strife-torn Manipur.
This violates Article 19 of the Indian Constitution and fosters communal division, Bimol said.
He was talking to reporters at his Imphal residence on Tuesday. He felt frustrated as he was barred from visiting Phougakchou-Ikhai Makha Leikai Keithel (Bazar) in Bishnupur district on June 29. The area falls within his parliamentary constituency.
Preventing an Indian citizen, an elected Member of Parliament from freely moving within his own constituency is a blatant breach of constitutional rights, he said and accused security forces of implicitly supporting the buffer zone concept, which ‘fuels division between communities in Manipur’.
“For the past few months, farmers have been facing attacks from armed militants intended to instill fear and discourage agricultural activity,” Bimol said. He cited two recent incidents one in Imphal East on June 16 and another in Bishnupur on June 20.
“The enforcement of an imaginary and unconstitutional buffer zone reflects a communally driven agenda that is deepening divisions in Manipur,” Bimol said, adding that the government had already clarified that no such zone officially exists. However, he said, security forces continue to act as if one does.
In a post on X, the Congress MP wrote “I, an elected Member of Lok Sabha, was stopped from visiting Phougakchou-Ikhai Makha Leikai Keithel in Bishnupur District, which falls within my parliamentary constituency (Inner Manipur) today, despite the heavy presence of security forces, including the Indian Army. Tellingly, civilians belonging to other communities (such as Pangals) are allowed to travel through the same place right in front of me. It speaks of the clandestine ways through which the state has been nurturing a communally founded division of Manipur and enforcing an unconstitutional buffer zone.”
Bimol clarified that his attempt to visit the market area was not provocative and accused the security forces specifically the 6 Assam Rifles, who erected the barricade in May 2023 of contributing to ongoing tensions. The so-called buffer zone was initially set up to control mobs but has since become a symbol of communal segregation, he said.
“Manipur is not divided by communal ideology,” the Congress MP said.
