IMPHAL, Jan 15: Clutching bows & arrows and spears, villagers of Thayong and its surrounding areas who have suffered for long have vowed to fight against anti-social activities like extortion, abduction for ransom and other instances of harassment being meted out by armed UG cadres more particularly by the Kuki UG outfits that have entered Suspension of Operation (SoO) with the Government of India and Manipur.
The collective pledge of the villagers was taken during a public meeting organised by Komrem Union, Nongmaiching Area at Thayang village today.
Though falling under Senapati district, Thayang comes under the jurisdiction of Lamlai Assembly Consti-tuency and Lamlai Police Station of Imphal East district.
Besides the decision to take up their traditional arms and ammunition like bow & arrow and spear to protect themselves from anti-social elements, the meeting attended by representatives of 10 different villages of the area also resolved to fight collectively and highlight the atrocities being faced by the villagers to the authori-ties concerned of the Go- vernment.
Furthermore, the meeting resolved not to entertain any monetary demand from the UGs in the future and to approach the Government for refunding the money extorted from the villagers in the past.
The meeting proceeded with HERICOUN president Reverend Renghang Chothe, UCM president Konsam Lanngamba Meetei and Komrem Union president L John taking the seats as chief guest, guest of honour and functional president respec-tively.
It may be recalled here that the Khullakpa of Tha-yong village Rengnei-thang Kom (55) was abducted by armed cadres of a faction of the KNF on the night of December 9 last in connection with a ransom demand of Rs 1 lakh. On the following day, the villagers had contributed Rs 80,000 and handed over the amount to the armed abductors. But the Khullakpa was released only after being beaten up severely.
The meeting was held in the backdrop of such undue harrassments of the UGs.
Addressing the meeting, Lanngamba lamented that the violent incidents of abducting people for ransom, triggering bomb explosion and firing attacks have become the day occurrence and the signing of ceasefire agreement and SoO have come to meant as a license to indulge in all these illegal activities.
As there is no more fighting with the security forces who were once considered their enemies, some of the leaders of the UG groups have made it convenient for themselves to purchase flats and plots of land outside the State while indulging in ransom demand from people back home unabashedly. Apart from lodging complaint against such anti-social activities of the UGs upto the level of the Home Ministry, pressures should also be exerted to refund all the money extorted from the people, Lanngamba exhorted the meeting.
Renghang Chothe observed that among the numerous UG outfits operating in Manipur, there are many which do not have any definite ideologies of their own. This point should be taken serious note of at the time of signing any ceasefire agreement or SoO. Otherwise, such agreements may backfire and the wrath of the public may befall on the parties involved.
Komrem Union president L John noted that Komrem is a peace loving community that is scattered along the foothills of the valley and has been living in mutual co-existence with other communities since time immemorial.
However, over the last few decades, some UG groups have been trying to divide the community on communal line with some claiming Komrem as Kuki while some others terming it as Naga, thus subjecting the people to imposition of various taxes, he said, adding that Komrem people have suffered long enough under such undue tax impositions.
Source: http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/
.::. All my articles can be view here: MELTED HEARTS .::.
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The collective pledge of the villagers was taken during a public meeting organised by Komrem Union, Nongmaiching Area at Thayang village today.
Though falling under Senapati district, Thayang comes under the jurisdiction of Lamlai Assembly Consti-tuency and Lamlai Police Station of Imphal East district.
Besides the decision to take up their traditional arms and ammunition like bow & arrow and spear to protect themselves from anti-social elements, the meeting attended by representatives of 10 different villages of the area also resolved to fight collectively and highlight the atrocities being faced by the villagers to the authori-ties concerned of the Go- vernment.
Furthermore, the meeting resolved not to entertain any monetary demand from the UGs in the future and to approach the Government for refunding the money extorted from the villagers in the past.
The meeting proceeded with HERICOUN president Reverend Renghang Chothe, UCM president Konsam Lanngamba Meetei and Komrem Union president L John taking the seats as chief guest, guest of honour and functional president respec-tively.
It may be recalled here that the Khullakpa of Tha-yong village Rengnei-thang Kom (55) was abducted by armed cadres of a faction of the KNF on the night of December 9 last in connection with a ransom demand of Rs 1 lakh. On the following day, the villagers had contributed Rs 80,000 and handed over the amount to the armed abductors. But the Khullakpa was released only after being beaten up severely.
The meeting was held in the backdrop of such undue harrassments of the UGs.
Addressing the meeting, Lanngamba lamented that the violent incidents of abducting people for ransom, triggering bomb explosion and firing attacks have become the day occurrence and the signing of ceasefire agreement and SoO have come to meant as a license to indulge in all these illegal activities.
As there is no more fighting with the security forces who were once considered their enemies, some of the leaders of the UG groups have made it convenient for themselves to purchase flats and plots of land outside the State while indulging in ransom demand from people back home unabashedly. Apart from lodging complaint against such anti-social activities of the UGs upto the level of the Home Ministry, pressures should also be exerted to refund all the money extorted from the people, Lanngamba exhorted the meeting.
Renghang Chothe observed that among the numerous UG outfits operating in Manipur, there are many which do not have any definite ideologies of their own. This point should be taken serious note of at the time of signing any ceasefire agreement or SoO. Otherwise, such agreements may backfire and the wrath of the public may befall on the parties involved.
Komrem Union president L John noted that Komrem is a peace loving community that is scattered along the foothills of the valley and has been living in mutual co-existence with other communities since time immemorial.
However, over the last few decades, some UG groups have been trying to divide the community on communal line with some claiming Komrem as Kuki while some others terming it as Naga, thus subjecting the people to imposition of various taxes, he said, adding that Komrem people have suffered long enough under such undue tax impositions.
Source: http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/
.::. All my articles can be view here: MELTED HEARTS .::.
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