Torbung back in focus after May 3, 2023 Replaying the nightmare
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Manipur went to sleep on December 16 in a disturbed state of mind and this was only reinforced on December 17 morning when hard news of the bullets being rained down at Phougakchao Ikhai and Torbung greeted the readers. This much is true and from what one can glean from the fabulously scripted statement issued by the Kuki-Zo Council, the onus has been placed on the Meitei folks for ‘daring’ to return to their rightful residences at the said three places. ’Violating the buffer zone’ is the line maintained by the Kuki-Zo Council while putting the blame for the bullets that rained on the said three places on the Meiteis and nothing can get more farcical than this. The only thing is, the farce that is being staged seems to be well scripted, with each of the bullet being fired ringing out the message that the Kuki-Zo Council stands firmly against any move that would come close to the understanding of normalcy. And the bullets and bombs that rained on the three places were not farce, but real bullets and explosives that can kill and maim. It should also be obvious that the Kuki-Zo Council is hellbent on derailing the December deadline given by former Chief Secretary PK Singh that the displaced persons would be returned to the place they were forced out from after Manipur erupted in violence on May 3, 2023. To even the cursory observer it would be clear that the bullets and bombs that rained at the three places came even as pressure is being mounted on Raj Bhavan and by extension the Government of India to resettle the displaced folks. It is also more than obvious that the ‘surrender all the illegitimate guns’ ultimatum served by Raj Bhavan, shortly after Manipur came under President’s Rule, seems to have found no takers in the hills, particularly the Kuki-Chin-Zo hardliners, those leading the assaults with guns and bombs. Importantly, is Raj Bhavan ready to accept this or will the Government, like the top honchos of the Central security forces, fall back on the line, only ‘pumpis’ and some country made guns were used ? Or should the people be given to understand that such an act of opening fire, with the security personnel deployed in full strength, was done without the active participation of cadres of outfits which are under the SoO pact ? Questions should be directed to the people in charge, the people who call the shots right now. At the same time, the MLAs too should be asked what they intend to do now. Why haven’t the MLAs ever come together to discuss things over, after Manipur came under President’s Rule on February 13 this year ?
Even as The Sangai Express was compiling the report on the outrage at the said two places late in the evening of December 16, another video clip surfaced. The said video clip showed some Kuki folks confronting the Assam Rifles, with a personnel of the Central security force retorting that they had seized drugs and ammunition from the residence of a person who he named as one Paonilal or Paolenlal. The matter would be taken to the Court of law, was what the Assam Rifles man had thundered. Though it could not be confirmed whether this incident had anything to do with the assault launched at the three places, what is significant is that no official statement from the side of the security personnel has come out till now. This is what is flabbergasting. If any arrest has been made, if what the Assam Rifles man said had any truth to it, then why has nothing official come from the side of the security personnel ? Why is the Public Relations Officer of the Assam Rifles quiet on this ? Or can one read something more between the lines in the raid and seizure of the Assam Rifles ? Manipur has been on the boil for too long and it is surprising that the rushing in of 60,000 Central security personnel, right after May 3, 2023, has not had any impact till date, other than inconveniencing the public when the top bosses of the security personnel decide to move around the roads of Imphal. Raj Bhavan should also not forget that the people of Phougakchao Ikhai and Torbung returned home with the full knowledge of the administration and in line with what was assured by the former Chief Secretary. Torbung and one is immediately reminded of May 3, 2023.
Even as The Sangai Express was compiling the report on the outrage at the said two places late in the evening of December 16, another video clip surfaced. The said video clip showed some Kuki folks confronting the Assam Rifles, with a personnel of the Central security force retorting that they had seized drugs and ammunition from the residence of a person who he named as one Paonilal or Paolenlal. The matter would be taken to the Court of law, was what the Assam Rifles man had thundered. Though it could not be confirmed whether this incident had anything to do with the assault launched at the three places, what is significant is that no official statement from the side of the security personnel has come out till now. This is what is flabbergasting. If any arrest has been made, if what the Assam Rifles man said had any truth to it, then why has nothing official come from the side of the security personnel ? Why is the Public Relations Officer of the Assam Rifles quiet on this ? Or can one read something more between the lines in the raid and seizure of the Assam Rifles ? Manipur has been on the boil for too long and it is surprising that the rushing in of 60,000 Central security personnel, right after May 3, 2023, has not had any impact till date, other than inconveniencing the public when the top bosses of the security personnel decide to move around the roads of Imphal. Raj Bhavan should also not forget that the people of Phougakchao Ikhai and Torbung returned home with the full knowledge of the administration and in line with what was assured by the former Chief Secretary. Torbung and one is immediately reminded of May 3, 2023.