UKHRUL: Katho Long and Katho Katamnao Long on Monday announced the restriction on the movement of Kukis throughout Ukhrul and Kamjong districts in Manipur. Monitoring and picketing of their movement will commence and remain in force until further notice, Katho Long and Katho Katamnao Long stated.
The two organisations also condemned and debunked the fake, one-sided narratives that have been spreading on various social media platforms by the Kuki Students Organization (Ukhrul District) and the Litan Sareikhong Village Authority through their press statements.
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Terming the narratives as an attempt to portray themselves as victims and a peace-loving community, the Katho Long and Katho Katamnao Long said in a statement that they are the ones who triggered the whole mess by breaking the jaw of an individual over a minor verbal altercation.
“There was no incident of the victim’s family approaching the Chief of Litan Sareikhong. It is a complete lie, intended to paint a picture that the Kukis were approached for a peaceful and amicable solution, thereby twisting the narrative and changing the entire incident. This is not acceptable at all. Once again, they have been caught lying, which cannot be justified for their unacceptable and war-mongering actions that endangered the life of a person,” Katho Long and Katho Katamnao Long stated.
The two organisations also stated that no such meeting or arrangement has been made so far, adding that they should retract such unfounded statements immediately and clarify that the statement is false, and verify the facts before hastily making a press statement in the future.Â
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“Spreading such lies and twisting the facts will only exacerbate the situation. Moreover, last night, the Kuki militants armed with sophisticated weapons openly blank-fired a few metres away from where security forces were deployed, thereby creating fear among the public, which led to a wider commotion,” Katho Long and Katho Katamnao Long stated.
The two organisations also questioned the biased handling of the situation by Central and State security forces.Â
“What are the security forces doing when the Kuki militants, fully armed, come out openly on the streets and start firing blank rounds in the open air? On one side, they are trying to control the commotion, yet on the other side, they are giving a free upper hand to Kuki militants. What kind of rule of law is being applied here?” Katho Long and Katho Katamnao Long questioned while adding that they will not accept such intimidation by certain anti-social elements on their land by Kuki armed groups that “do not have any right” to threaten and intimidate in whatsoever manner.
“It only triggers us more, and we will take up the necessary course that is deemed fit and necessary to protect our own people and defend our land from illegal immigrants and refugees,” Katho Long and Katho Katamnao Long cautioned.
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The two organisations also recalled that this was not the first time that the Kukis staying in Litan have indulged in such barbaric acts of boasting and flexing muscle power, going around beating anyone they dislike.
“If one may recall, just last year there was an incident where a Winger driver was beaten up by Kukis under the influence of alcohol. For peaceful co-existence and in the larger interest of the public, an undertaking was made between the Tangkhul CSO leaders and the Kuki leaders, represented by the Kuki Chiefs from five villages. It was clearly mentioned in the undertaking that in case of any repetition in the future, it would be dealt with severely, and further, no terms of negotiation would be made. However, despite the fact that such an undertaking is in place, the Kukis seem to pay no heed, and the undertaking has become a mockery.
Katho Long and Katho Katamnao Long further claimed that the Kukis have not honoured their call for peace and have always invited severity through their unacceptable, barbaric, and war-mongering behaviour and placed a restriction on the movement of Kukis throughout Ukhrul and Kamjong districts.