Ukhrul, July 30 (MExN): Even as the Indo-Naga peace process claim to have progressed, Ukhrul district of Manipur has seen a sudden surge in Indian military activity. Against the “heavy deployment of armed personnel in Shingkap, Marou, Lungphu and Hongpei,” the Ukhrul civil society organized a public meeting on July 30 at Town Hall in Phungreitang attended by thousands of people. While condemning the “heavy militarization” of Ukhrul, the meeting also shot off a memorandum to the Chief Minister of Manipur appealing the withdrawal of the security forces “in order to restore peace and harmony.” Monday’s meeting was organized by the Tangkhul Naga Long, Tangkhul Shanao Long, Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong and Tangkhul Mayar Ngala Long. Under the pretext of medical camp & on school premises According the President of Tangkhul Shanao Long, a medical camp was organized by the 17 Assam Rifles under whose pretext of 200 Assam Rifles personnel were camping at Marou, Shingta and Lungphu villages, about 120 personnel were deployed at Itham, Bahoram and Chongdan villages and about 100 personnel at Hongpei village since July 27. “The presence of large numbers of Assam Rifles personnel in the area even after organizing the medical camp and frisking of the people at Marou, Lungphu Junction, Hongpei and Ramva has created fear psychosis and unrest among the people,” maintained the Tangkhul Naga women’s apex body. A team comprising of Tangkhul frontal organizations has visited Shingkap village on July 28. President of the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) condemned the “act and intention to sabotage the hard earned peace process and added that it is something the people will not accept.” According to him, “we have been existing peacefully with the Assam Rifles but it is very unfortunate to witness their activities.” He appealed the Assam Rifles and the Manipur State Government to honour the Framework Agreement and immediately withdraw the Assam Rifles from the area in order to maintain peace and tranquility. “The Tangkhuls will be compelled to take up necessary agitation to uphold the Framework Agreement in case of failure to heed to the demand,” said the President of the Tangkhul Naga apex organization. Shimray, Vice President of the Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong, condemned the stationing of 17 Assam Rifles personnel at the Marou Primary School. He informed that due to the stationing of hundreds of Assam Rifles personnel on the school premises, “children are afraid of attending schools.” He appealed immediate withdrawal of the Assam Rifles personnel from the school campus. The meeting on July 30 endorsed a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister of Manipur through the Deputy Commissioner of Ukhrul. The memorandum stated that the security forces have “deliberately failed to create conducive atmosphere for peaceful co-existence and have failed to understand the position of peace loving citizens.” It stated that “frisking has given a sense of insecurity and created fear psychosis to the commuters and it is a sign of insincerity on the part of Assam Rifles.” The memorandum mentioned that under the pretext of medical camp under the command of Rishi Dubey, CO, 17 AR has “heavily militarized the area.” The memorandum also appealed the Chief Minister of Manipur to immediately withdraw all the security forces from the area in order to restore peace and harmony. Jointly signed by the Tangkhul Naga Long, Tangkhul Shanao Long, Tangkhul Katamano Long and Tangkhul Mayar Ngala Long, the memorandum maintained that “The Government of Manipur shall be held responsible for any untoward incident” erupting from this.
