In response to the Central and state government's failure to safeguard Meetei civilians from Kuki militants, five Ima lups of Manipur have demanded sovereignty and highlighted the peaceful way of life maintained by the people during pre-merger times.
The five Ima lups namely the All Manipur Kanglei Ima Lup (AMKIL), Nongchup Imphal Palem Ima Apunba Nupi Lup, Thoubal District Women Development Organisation, Apunba Nupi Lup Bishnupur District, and Nongpok Leingak Apunba Nupi Lup addressed the media at the Manipur Press Club in Imphal on Tuesday.
Lamenting the alleged divide and rule policy employed by the Central government, supported by the state government, president of AMKIL L Nganbi held them responsible for the ongoing unrest in Manipur.
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She accused the Central forces, particularly the Assam Rifles, of siding with the Kuki militants and presented evidence such as the recovery of special food packages and bullet projectiles supplied to AR from a Kuki militant camp in the Sugnu area to support her claim.
She also referenced various alleged fake encounter cases involving the AR and accused them of harassing Meetei women and civilians.
In response to the situation, women took to the streets and blocked AR convoys to protect innocent civilians in peripheral areas from harassment by AR personnel who are allegedly supporting the Kuki militants, she added.
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Objecting to a news report aired by a national TV channel that portrayed Meetei women as supporting insurgency, she demanded that the channel verify the facts and issue an apology to the people of Manipur.
Why the channel failed to highlight core issues such as attacks by Kuki militants on Meetei villages, the blocking of national highways, and encroachment on Reserved and Protected Forests by illegal immigrants, she questioned.
