Nupi Lup warns of agitation

Our Correspondent
MOIRANG, Dec 26: The Keinou Thongthak Yaipha Lamjing Nupi Lup has urged the authorities to immediately address the demands raised by the Village Defence Force (VDF), warning that failure to do so could lead to intensified public agitation.
The Nupi Lup stated that VDF personnel have been protecting and safeguarding the lives and property of people in vulnerable and red zone areas since the outbreak of ethnic violence in the State on May 2023. It asserted that  any decision by the VDF to stop providing protection in these areas, if their demands remain unmet, would not be acceptable to the people.
The statement was issued by Shantibala during a protest held at Keinou Thongthak Youth Welfare Association Ground, which was attended by members of the club and local residents.
She said that VDF personnel have been providing security to villagers of  Leimaram, Irengbam, Heinoubok, Yumnam Khunou, Keinou and Ngaikhong Khunou  since the outbreak of violence, enabling villagers to live relatively peaceful lives.
She further stated that without the protection provided by the VDF, attacks by Kuki militants in peripheral villages could not have been prevented. Urging the Government to immediately meet the demands of the VDF, she warned that if the authorities fail to respond positively, the mothers would launch various forms of intensified agitation against the PR Government.
Meanwhile, Keinou Thongthak Youth Welfare Association secretary Thingbaijam Dinesh said that unlike the Torbung Bangla incident, where Kuki militants allegedly launched firing attacks on resettled IDPs, the PR Government must ensure that such incidents do not occur in the Keinou area.
He added that by granting the demands of the VDF, the Government should take concrete steps to ensure that the people of the area are able to lead peaceful and normal lives.