Another MPA camp shifted amid public protest

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jul 1: Amid strong public protests, the 294 Battalion of Pambei-led UNLF has been shifted from Phayeng hill in Imphal West to Yaithibi Loukol, Thoubal today.
The camp at Phayeng will now host personnel of the 5 Manipur Rifles and 10 Indian Reserve Battalion.
This move came a day after the 293 Marjing Battalion of the Pambei-led UNLF at Nongshum was moved to Ingourok and replaced by 10th IRB Battalion.
The Pambei-led UNLF is a group engaged in talks with the Government of India.
When the cadres of the Manipur People's Army (MPA), the armed wing of the group, were being moved, the locals of Phayeng came out of their houses and bade them farewell.
Showing solidarity and blessing the cadres, the locals gave them handfuls of rice.
Locals said they condemn the removal of the Pambei-led UNLF cadres from the area, and said it could make the villages in the area vulnerable amid the prolonged violent conflict in the State.
Notably, a huge number of people had confronted security forces yesterday when cadres of the MPA were being moved from the Nongshum camp. Security had resorted to firing tear gas shells and smoke bombs to disperse the protesters. At Phayeng today, locals said they have very little trust in Central security forces to protect them.
Even though State forces are being stationed at the vacated camp, locals said, they feel more at ease when the MPA cadres were stationed there. The locals alleged that the removal of the MPA camp seems to be a policy of the Government of India to "weaken the Meitei community" when the State is facing conflicts among communities. The Government of India and the State Government must bear the sole responsibility in case any of the villages in the region are attacked by Kuki militants, they said.