New Delhi: Some Kuki representatives have said that they will boycott the ‘peace committee’ announced by Union home minister Amit Shah in Manipur in the aftermath of the ethnic violence, citing the fact that they were included without their consent and because it has chief minister N. Biren Singh and his supporters in it.
The committee, formed on June 10, will be chaired by Governor Anusuiya Uikey. It has 51 members.
The Hindu has reported that several people who were made members of the panel revealed that they had been added without their consent. Among them are Kuki Inpi Manipur president Ajang Khongsai, who said that the panel includes members of the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity, a civil society group in Imphal that “has declared war against the Kukis.”
Others like retired Indian Defence Accounts Service officer J. Lhungdim – who also said he was included without his consent – said that after having served the government for 37 years people like him were “being referred to as foreigners by the CM.”
Lhungdim asked for Union government officials to lead the panel.
The Hindu also notes how former Manipur Director General of Police P. Doungel, who was appointed to a position created overnight on June 1 – Officer on Special Duty, Home – and has been sidelined by the government, is also in the panel.
Manipur minister for information and public relations, R.K. Ranjan, said a day ago that more than 50,000 people, displaced by the ethnic violence in Manipur, are staying in 349 relief camps.
The state continues to remain under an internet ban, this time extended till June 15. It has been on since May 3.
Sporadic incidents of violence have made their way to the news.
In the last 24 hours, Ranjan said and Economic Times reported, security forces have seized 57 arms, 318 ammunition and five bombs from Porompat police station, Imphal East and Sugnu police stations and Kakching district. A total of 868 arms and 11,518 ammunition have been recovered till date.