The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) on Monday demanded a complete withdrawal of the imposition of bloackade on Imphal-Dimapur road along National Highway No-2 since the outbreak of violence in the state.
COCOMI coordinator Jeetendra Ningomba on Monday told the media at its head office located at Uripok Yambem Leikai, Imphal West, that the Indian Government is known to the world for possessing one of the most powerful central paramilitary forces.
However, the Union government with its Central forces have not been able to ensure safety along the Imphal-Dimapur road though the blockade is imposed on only 7-8 km stretch of the highway.
COCOMI asked whether there is any hidden agenda behind the Central government’s failure to secure safe passage of transporters and commuters along the highways.
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Ningomba further questioned why an organisation can decide to temporarily suspend the blockade only for seven days that too for some particular hours. COCOMI demands that the "economic blockade" along NH-2 be completely withdrawn.
He recalled that during Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Manipur, he gave his assurance to most of the civil society organisations of Meitei and Kuki communities that the economic blockade along NH-2 will be lifted within two days. Amit Shah left Manipur on June 1 for Delhi.
On Sunday, Amit Shah appealed to lift the blockade with a Twitter post that stated “My sincerest appeal to the people of Manipur is to lift the blockades at the Imphal-Dimapur, NH-2 Highway, so that food, medicines, Petrol/Diesel, and other necessary items can reach the people. I also request the civil society organisations do the needful in bringing consensus. Together only we can restore normalcy in this beautiful state” (sic).
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On the same day, the Committee on Tribals Unity (COTU), Sadar Hills District in a release mentioned that the blockade along the national highway has been temporarily suspended for a period of 7 days starting from Monday.
The release stated that only essential commodities and medical supplies will be allowed to ply on the highway with the escort of the Central forces. The timing for movement of trucks shall be limited between 10 am to 2 pm only, it stated.
“If attacks are carried out on Kuki villages by armed Meiteis during the suspension, the committee will be compelled to relook into the matter,” it added.
Jeetendra further said that the people across the state and country have witnessed that Kuki narco-terrorists are continuously attacking the Meitei villagers. During Amit Shah’s visit, there were exchanges of gunfire in some places of Manipur and even after his departure they continued to attack in various parts of the state.
The people of Manipur also witnessed incidents which indicate that there may have been some nexus between Kuki militants and Assam Rifles though the union home minister was not able to take any action against the Kuki militants.
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Decrying the untimely action, COCOMI urged the people of Manipur to demonstrate the formation of a human chain in protest across the state from 8 to 9 pm on Tuesday.
He also appealed to the protesters to raise slogans such as ‘take stringent action against Kuki Narco terrorists’ and ‘Withdraw Assam Rifles immediately’.
Meanwhile, COCOMI submitted a memorandum to Amit Shah through the in-charge of Unified command government of Manipur, Kuldiep Singh on Sunday. The memorandum demanded immediate action against Kuki Militants and terrorist groups against their continuous aggression and provocative attacks towards the Meitei Villages.
