Imphal, September 8: The Manipur Naga Youth Organisation (MNYO), while strongly condemning the “waylaid incident” of Imphal-Sinakeithei passenger bus by “Kuki militants” on September 8 at Molnom village, has said that Nagas will not remain silent spectators.
The MNYO, in a statement issued today, alleged that the Kuki militants entered the bus, threatened the passengers with blank firing a few rounds in the air, snatched their phones and verified whether there was any image in their phones against their interest. “This dastard and heinous acts of the Kuki militants targeting the innocent bus passengers plying on a regular basis for their livelihood was a direct challenge to the whole of Naga society and its people,” the MNYO said.
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The MNYO also said the Naga people and their organisations will not remain silent spectators “while our communities are subjected to threats and unlawful intimidation”. It said this “dastardly act” itself manifested the true character of the Kuki militants and its people. The incident also “reminds us once again of such many similar incidents which had happened in the past”.
The MNYO then said the situation in Manipur is fragile, normalcy is yet to return, all concerned civil society organisations and government authorities are working overtime to restore peace in the state. “However, the Kuki militants are trying their best to prolong it and planning to open another front of conflict against the Nagas in many areas, and not only in Ukhrul district periphery corridor bordering Kangpokpi district. It also said the Kuki militants are “continuously provoking” the Nagas in the western foothills range. The Manipur Naga Youth Organisation (MNYO urged the concerned authority to “carefully” assess the security situation in the periphery of Manipur foothills and beyond, if not, peace in the state may still be elusive for everyone.
The Manipur Naga Youth Organisation also “strongly opposes the shifting of Thingsat Suspension of Operation (SoO) camp to Naga ancestral land”. It said shifting the SoO camp to “Naga ancestral land will invite more trouble in the area”.
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The MNYO asked the Kuki community and their civil society organisations to reign in over Kuki militant organisations to refrain from committing “violent crimes” against the innocent public in future. “In many situations the Kuki militants overstep it and the consequences of their misdeeds will be fixed upon them squarely without any toleration in future”, it added.
Therefore, MNYO then urged the government authorities to check the “illegal activities and unlawful assembly of Kuki militant organisations in mixed areas stoking violence for the purpose best known to them”. The MNYO also said it “strongly advocates for carrying out a massive combing operation in the area to bring all the involved culprits to book in the interest of peace and justice”.
(Newmai News Network)