Implement NRC In Manipur, Start Ops Against Kuki Militants: Meitei Body COCOMI To Centre

The COCOMI urged the government to complete fencing along the India-Myanmar border at the earliest to stop illegal immigration and trafficking of arms and drugs

Advertisement
Read Time: 2 mins
Video screen grab of Kuki militants threatening Manipur BJP spokesman Michael Lamjathang Haokip (File)
Imphal:

The Meitei group Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) on Sunday demanded that the Centre implement NRC in the state to identify illegal immigrants from Myanmar.

The COCOMI urged the government to complete fencing along the India-Myanmar border at the earliest to stop illegal immigration and trafficking of arms and drugs.

"The Centre has not taken any action despite fresh bombings at Kadangband earlier this month. This indicates the people of the state are not being considered as citizens of the country," said Somendro Thokchom, the coordinator of the organisation.

Suspected militants had launched a bomb attack in Kadangband area of Manipur's Imphal West district on January 14.

"This conflict will end only when the Centre takes definite action and initiates a military crackdown against Kuki militants," Mr Thokchom told reporters.

The conglomerate of several Imphal-based civil society organisations also demanded that the government take action against Kuki militants to end the ongoing conflict in the state that left over 250 people dead and thousands homeless.

"NRC needs to be implemented (in Manipur) to identify illegal immigrants. Refugee detention camps for Myanmarese people must not be confined to Manipur only. The state has limited land resources. The camps should also be set up in other states," Mr Thokchom said.

The Centre must complete border fencing along the Myanmar border at the earliest to prevent illegal immigration as well as the inflow of arms and drugs from the neighbouring country, he said.

"Illegal immigration, arms and drugs smuggling from Myanmar into Manipur remain core issues of the conflict in the state," he said.

"The situation has hardly improved in the state. There are no signs of any action being taken. Among the various cases, the killing of three women and three children by Kuki and Hmar militants in Jiribam district in November last year and the disappearance of a man from an army camp at Leimakhong in Kangpokpi district remains unaddressed," he added.

Featured Video Of The Day
"The Reality Is...": NCP's Ajit Pawar On Saif Ali Khan Attacker
Topics mentioned in this article