Ibobi slams Centre, state over Kamjong violence

Imphal: Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president and former chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh on Friday accused the BJP govt, both at the Centre and the state, of failing to protect the lives and properties of citizens. His remarks came after over 20 houses were burnt down in coordinated attacks by suspected Myanmar-based Kuki militants in Kamjong district on Thursday.

Speaking to the media at the Congress Bhavan in Imphal, Ibobi said the attacks on villages in the border district and recurring communal tensions reflected the complete breakdown of law and order under the BJP-led govts at the Centre and the state.

Ibobi questioned the role of security agencies, particularly the deployment of forces guarding the India-Myanmar border. He said Assam Rifles, responsible for the border security in the area, had camps located near the affected villages.

He also criticised the deployment of reportedly unarmed police personnel in sensitive border areas, claiming that armed groups crossing from Myanmar were using sophisticated weapons, while state forces remained inadequately equipped.

Ibobi said violence and unrest have persisted in Manipur since BJP came to power in 2017. While acknowledging that incidents had occurred during previous Congress govts, he said the scale and frequency of violence had sharply increased after BJP assumed office, especially following the outbreak of ethnic violence on May 3, 2023.

He cited recent incidents, including the killing of two children in a bomb attack at Tronglaobi and the latest attacks in Kamjong district, asserting that the govt had failed to safeguard ordinary citizens from internal and external threats.

The MPCC president also expressed concern over reports of growing tensions between communities in parts of Ukhrul district. Ibobi said despite repeated incidents, there had been no visible large-scale combing operations or sustained security measures in the affected areas.

“There are times when we are forced to question whether we are truly treated as citizens of India at all,” he said, criticising the indifferent response of the Centre to the ongoing crisis in Manipur.
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