'Only way out now for the Nagas, is complete separation in administration & governance'
Ukhrul, December 20 (MExN): The Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (TKS) has accused the Manipur state security forces and the Assam Rifles of “playing a dangerous game of bias and creating a communal divide.”
In a statement, TKS cited the incidents following the bandh called by the Khwairamband women in Imphal to protest against the ambush of state security personnel by unknown armed groups at various places in the state starting on the evening of the December 16.
The student body claimed that Police personnel stood mute without taking any action while private vehicles traversing along the Imphal-Ukhrul route were subjected to rocks and iron bars hurled at them while also being shot at with catapults and airguns.
Almost 50 vehicles have been burned down in the process, it added while pointing out that neither the state nor the central government appears to be taking any action.
TKS informed that it had sought security from the district administration, who had been in contact with their counterparts from Imphal East, but the latter had stated that they were “helpless as the mob could not be stopped”.
“Security was also sought from the Assam Rifles who under various pretexts refused to help the stranded passengers,” the Saklong added.
TKS further informed of a proclamation issued on December 18 by Tangkhul civil societies wherein it had warned the public against harming anyone from any community residing within its jurisdiction.
To make matters worse, media houses were covering the incidents with bias, the Saklong further alleged insisting that the media houses kept denying the burning of vehicles and the harassment to passengers.
“National media have been fed biased and one sided news reports,” the TKS claimed arguing that the news reports were made “without confirming news from the ground from both ends”. In this regard, the Saklong appealed to the media houses to be present at “ground zero”.
Further stating that the Manipur state government “is an authority only in name”, the TKS blamed the state government for the “complete breakdown of the state machinery” in dealing with the aforementioned incidents and reiterated the United Naga Council’s call for President’s Rule in the state.
Pointing out that the Meitei Naga divide is at its peak today with no sign of reconciliation, the TKS claimed that the divide had “never been this existent” until the incumbent Chief Minister “and has worsened with each passing decision of his” insisting that with every decision that Ibobi makes, “lives are lost, lives are scarred and people’s resentment grows even more”.
Notwithstanding the objections and the outcry that have unfolded since the declaration of the 7 new districts, the state government has gone ahead with the inauguration of several of the newly declared districts.
The Naga community staunchly opposed the creation of the new districts arguing that all stakeholders were not consulted. The Hill Area Committee (HAC) and Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) were also not consulted on the issue as is mandated under Article 371C of the Constitution of India.
TKS in this regard warned that it will oppose the creation of the newly declared districts “tooth and nail”.
The only way out now for the Nagas, is “complete separation in administration and governance”, the TKS asserted. “The Nagas have had enough and also henceforth calls for total separation in governance and administration from the state of Manipur,” it added.
