UKHRUL: The World Meetei Council (WMC) has yet again sought the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take immediate and effective measures to restore peace in Manipur, ensure free movement along national highways in the state, and bring a just and lasting resolution to the crisis without further delay.
In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, WMC stated that the ground reality of the state remains deeply troubling, while emphasising on the continued blockade of the National Highways by the SoO groups of Kuki-Zos.
“Despite the deployment of over 60,000 military and paramilitary personnel in a geographically small state of 23,000 odd square kilometres with a population of around 3 million, the situation on the ground remains deeply troubling. Of particular concern is the continued blockage of critical stretch of about 30 kilometres on National Highway No. 2 which is also the Asian Highway-1 by the SoO groups of Kuki-Zos,” WMC stated.
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WMC, while acknowledging the government’s efforts towards resolving insurgency issues in the Northeast, particularly involving Meetei insurgent groups, with a stated goal of bringing such challenges to an end, said the approach being followed appears to be causing “unintended hardship” to the civilian population, especially the Meetei community.
WMC also stated that there is a growing perception among the people that armed groups under SoO arrangements have been allowed operational freedom.
“This has led to a sense of injustice and insecurity among the population, who feel caught in the crossfire of policies and conflict dynamics,” WMC stated, adding that it is difficult for the people to reconcile calls by the Centre on the state government to restore normalcy when the armed SoO groups are beyond the control of the state.
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WMC appealed to the Prime Minister to ensure that the people of Manipur are treated on par with citizens of Gujarat or in any other part of the country.
“The innocent civilians should not become an unintended consequence of efforts to resolve complex security challenges,” WMC asserted, while seeking PM Modi’s intervention to take immediate and effective measures to restore peace, ensure free movement along national highways in the state.
