Decrying the Assam Rifles and the Central government’s alleged directive to remove the camps of Manipur People’s Army (MPA) of UNLF (Pambei) from Pukhao and Nongshum area in Imphal East, hundreds of men and women gathered at Pukhao Laipham community for a public meeting on Sunday.
As per sources, the Indian Army, IGAR East and Azad sector of the Assam Rifles reportedly gave directives to remove the camps of the Marjing Battalion of MPA, UNLF (Pambei) from the hill ranges of Pukhao and Nongshum in Imphal East.
The meeting unanimously demanded the central authorities to revoke their directive to shift the several camps of MPA in the region and further resolved to defy the authorities if they tried to implement the directive forcefully.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the meeting, one Thokchom Bijayta stated that the Centre’s push to remove the camps was a malicious ploy to weaken the defense in the foothill areas of Pukhao and Nongshum areas.
The directive came after general officer commanding-in-chief of the eastern command Ram Chander Tiwari’s recent visit in the region, she added.
She highlighted that the various Assam Rifles units deployed in the area had remained mute spectators to the onslaught of Kuki miscreants ever since the conflict erupted.
“They failed to protect the lives and properties of innocent Meitei villagers in the foothills. But the sense of relief and security was restored when the MPA started to guard the foothill and adjoining areas,” she said.
She further stated that the Kuki gun attacks never stopped even after several pleas by villagers to stop them.
“All our livelihood activities were seriously affected by the gun attacks but the Assam Rifles were simply unable or negligent to stop the gun attacks. Instead, more Kuki bunkers started to sprout,” she said.
She stated that the bunkers were also set up in forest areas which were frequented by Meiteis to collect firewood and such.
Therefore, she cautioned central authorities not to deploy such biased tactics and warned that the people would rise collectively against any actions to remove the MPA camps in Pukhao and Nongshum area.
