The MPCC condemned the TM Kasom terrorist attack and demanded the state and central governments implement a concrete law and order policy, citing a stark contrast between strict enforcement in the valley and unchecked violence in the hills.
IMPHAL – The Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has strongly demanded that the state and central governments move beyond symbolic gestures and implement a specific, sustainable policy to establish that the rule of law prevails across the entire state. Speaking at a press meet held at Congress Bhavan, MPCC spokesperson Dr. Ratan Kumar condemned the terrorist attack at TM Kasom Village on the Imphal-Ukhrul road, in which two civilians and one ex-serviceman lost their lives, and called for decisive action against those responsible.
Dr. Ratan Kumar questioned the relevance of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh’s outreach visits to districts such as Ukhrul, Jiribam, and Senapati, noting that the TM Kasom attack occurred shortly after the CM’s visit to Ukhrul. While acknowledging that such visits may be well-intentioned, the MPCC spokesperson said the results of these outreach programs lack any meaningful impact on the ground.
He stressed that visits alone are insufficient and must be accompanied by concrete action and a sustainable policy framework.
‘Reign of Terror’ in the Hills, Double Standards in Enforcement
Dr. Ratan Kumar drew a stark contrast between law enforcement in the valley districts and the hill districts.
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In the valley, security forces deploy heavy measures even during peaceful protests and rallies, and citizens cannot carry even a slingshot during curfew hours. Yet in the hill districts, terrorist groups carry out attacks in broad daylight, killing innocent civilians at will. |
He said this disparity proves the existence of a “Reign of Terror” in the hills and raises serious questions about what the state and central governments are doing to address it.
NIA Referrals and Ex-Gratia Not Enough
Criticising what he described as a repetitive and ineffective pattern of governance, Dr. Ratan Kumar said the Chief Minister’s standard response to every incident — handing cases over to the NIA or announcing ex-gratia payments to the deceased — cannot be considered a solution. He pointed out that this trend has continued for three years without any meaningful resolution.
He also raised the lack of transparency regarding the Tronglaobi incident, asking whether the public has been informed about who has been arrested or what actions have been taken since the incident occurred.
Irresponsible Statements by Leaders Endangering Public
The MPCC spokesperson criticised certain political leaders for making irresponsible public statements claiming that roads such as those through Kangpokpi and the Ukhrul route are safe to travel. He said that when civilians venture onto these roads trusting the assurances of MLAs and ministers, violent incidents occur, and held such statements partly responsible for endangering civilian lives.
Demands Transparency, Compares Inaction to Pahalgam Response
Dr. Ratan Kumar demanded full transparency from the government, stating that if security operations are being conducted and arrests are being made in the state, the public must be clearly informed.
He compared the government’s inaction in Manipur to its response to the Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir, where Operation Sindoor and surgical strikes were carried out, and questioned why no similarly strong action has been taken in Manipur despite three years of sustained unrest.
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He further questioned how the Central government views the people of Manipur, asking whether the state is truly regarded as a part of India, and attributed the prolonged suffering of the people to the BJP government’s failure to take Manipur seriously. |
The MPCC reiterated its demand that strong action be taken against terrorists and that a firm, transparent law and order policy be implemented to demonstrate that the rule of law genuinely exists throughout the state.
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