UKHRUL: In response to the attack by suspected Kuki armed groups on Naga villages in the Kamjong District along the Indo-Myanmar border on May 7, Manipur Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam visited the affected areas, accompanied by several Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs). The delegation included MLAs Thongam Biswajit Singh, Thangjam Arun Kumar, Ram Muivah, Khashim Vashum, Leishiyo Keishing, and Abdul Nasir, along with various bureaucrats and community leaders.
During the visit, the Home Minister spoke with women from the Leimashen area at MLA Leishiyo’s residence in Nambashi Khullen, who expressed their concerns. The womenfolk demanded the removal of the Assam Rifles, citing a loss of trust in the force. The Home Minister acknowledged the challenges faced by the villagers.
MLA Thongam Biswajit Singh emphasized that the people in both the hills and valleys have endured such unfortunate incidents numerous times. He urged the villagers to trust the government and remain hopeful for a better future.
Home Minister Govindas stated that the visit was arranged by the Chief Minister and recognized the suffering experienced by people in both the hills and valleys. Regarding the request to remove the Assam Rifles, he mentioned that he could not guarantee such a decision due to existing policies of the Central Government and a shortage of state security personnel.
Further, he explained that the Chief Minister was absent due to the swearing-in of a new CM in Kolkata, but assured the villagers that the government would strive to send more personnel to the region and encourage the Assam Rifles to treat the citizens fairly. He also proposed that the Border Security Force (BSF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) take responsibility for guarding the border and advised the women to interpret border fencing as security fencing. He promised further discussions on these measures with the Chief Minister upon his return.
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The group went on to visit Wanglee, Namlee, and Choro villages, which were directly affected by the attack. In a large gathering at Namlee village, attended by both local villagers and Burmese refugees, the team was warmly welcomed.
Addressing the audience, the Home Minister empathized with the suffering experienced by people from both Manipur and Myanmar. He assured that with consultation from the Chief Minister, the government would work to support the refugees and urged the Burmese nationals to help maintain peace and security in the region. Responding to a memorandum presented by the women, the Home Minister promised to discuss the issues raised with the Chief Minister. He announced a significant development project for the area and requested the community’s cooperation in fostering a peaceful environment. Regarding the demand for the removal of Central Forces, he clarified that such decisions are not solely within the state’s jurisdiction.
Following the arrest of Olina Ningshen in connection with the May 7 attack, Home Minister Govindas reaffirmed plans to ensure the victim’s safety and highlighted the importance of security fencing for the region. He urged community cooperation in this regard and assured that under MLA Leishiyo Keishing’s guidance, improvements would be seen within a few years.
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In interactions with the media, the Home Minister condemned the recent attack and addressed questions about the involvement of Myanmar-based armed groups such as the Kuki National Army-Burma (KNA-B) and People’s Defence Force (PDF). He acknowledged potential security lapses and stressed the government’s commitment to protecting both people and property. He noted that while there may be security gaps, the government is investigating to prevent future occurrences.
When asked if the attack could be attributed to foreign aggression, he stated that such terminology has not been included in official reports presented to the government. If evidence emerged supporting this claim, the government would raise the issue with the Union government. He informed that there are currently 7,000 vacant positions in state security forces, which will be filled and deployed shortly.
Regarding the recovery of a bullet shell in Namlee with a potentially Indian identification number, he suggested it could result from looted arms in the state, but further investigation would be necessary to confirm this speculation. In response to the villagers’ allegations that the Assam Rifles were involved in the incident, the Home Minister stated that the matter would be investigated.
During his visit, he was accompanied by representatives from various departments, including fire services, health, and electricity. Rations were distributed to the affected villagers.