Human chain in line to protest aerial bombings Act or go back : COCOMI to CSF

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Sep 5: The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has categorically asked the Central security forces detailed to contain the Manipur violence to go back if they are unwilling to take up concrete actions against the Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists involved in bombing civilians from weaponised drones.
Speaking to media persons at their Lamphelpat office this afternoon, COCOMI coordinator Somorendro Thokchom remarked that a confusing atmosphere has enveloped the 16 months old Manipur crisis as the Central Government remains totally indifferent while the State Government seems totally helpless.
COCOMI and its constituent organisations held a meeting on Wednesday on the recent aerial bombings carried out by Kuki terrorists using high-tech drones.
The meeting resolved that the Central security forces should leave Manipur if they are not in position to strike those Kuki terrorists involved in the aerial bombings within five days, Somorendro said.
The meeting resolved to form human chains on all major roads and raise slogans of condemnation on Friday, he said before appealing to all womenfolk, college students, youth and Meira Paibis to join the human chains.
He appealed to all the people to shout the slogans, “Central security forces who cannot protect innocent citizens must go back”, “Government must announce Kuki militants as terrorists”, “Drone bombing is an act of terrorism”, “We  condemn Government of India’s treatment of Manipur” and “We condemn Government of Manipur’s timidity”.
The meeting also resolved to press for replacement of Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh and DGP Rajiv Singh.
Aerial bombing from high-tech drones is a threat to the National security. Yet, the Government of India remains totally indifferent as before while the State Government has opted to keep its mouth shut, he decried.
The Central Government and the State Government must clear the people’s growing suspicion if they have their hands in the protracted crisis, he said.
Somorendro went on to ask if the allegation that the high-tech drones which dropped bombs on civilians and security forces were operated from a location close to 57th Mountain Division is true.
A former ADGP of BSF has already asserted that the Manipur violence will never come down until and unless one paramilitary force deployed in Manipur is withdrawn.
Although the retired BSF ADGP did not take the name of Assam Rifles, people believe that he was referring to the Assam Rifles, Somorendro remarked.
Meanwhile a press release issued by COCOMI Students’ Wing has appealed to all students and educational institutes to join the human chain protest and shout in unison the prescribed slogans between 11 am and 12 noon tomorrow.