Lok Sabha MP Dr Angomcha Bimol Akoijam Demands Inquiry Commission, Questions Security Force Conduct as Dead Five-Year-Old's Final Words to Mother Spark Outrage
IMPHAL — Lok Sabha MP Dr. Angomcha Bimol Akoijam on Wednesday launched a sweeping indictment of the Central government's handling of the Manipur crisis, accusing it of normalising unconstitutional practices, shielding security force misconduct, and abandoning the state to three years of unresolved violence — days after a bomb blast killed two young children and triggered further deaths when security forces opened fire on protesters.
The Inner Manipur MP spoke at length about a conflict that began on May 3, 2023, and has not been resolved since. "We are normalising what is essentially an abnormal condition," he said.
Five-Year-Old's Last Words: 'Mama, I Love You'
The blast killed three civilians, among them a five-year-old boy and his five-month-old baby sister. Their mother works as a nurse in Assam. Their father is posted in Bihar. The children were home without either parent when they were killed.
"One is barely five years old and the younger sister is only five months," Dr. Bimol said. "The five-year-old's last words to his mother were, 'Mama, I love you.' I talk to her. I can feel that pain."
He noted that the family had recently observed Cha-umba — the Manipuri ceremony marking a newborn's first solid food — for the younger child.
"It's heartbreaking. It's very disturbing. The mother — I barely could watch her."
CRPF Delayed Response, Then Live Fire on Protesters — Three More Dead
Dr. Bimol alleged that the CRPF unit stationed near the blast site was slow to respond, a delay he said deepened the public's already fragile trust in central security forces.
"The CRPF unit did not come out after the bomb blast happened. They should have rushed in immediately. They didn't. It was pretty delayed," he said.
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When crowds gathered in protest, the response that followed was live fire. Three people died.
"You don't manage a crowd by opening live fire and then have three people dead," he said, questioning whether the unit had any Rapid Action Force capability for crowd management. He called for answers on coordination between the CRPF, the Indian Army, and the state police. "The professional competency and responsibility is increasingly being eroded in these responses."
Restricting Citizens for Three Years Violates the Constitution
Dr. Bimol accused central security forces of running buffer zones and restricting civilian movement in Manipur for nearly three years — a practice he said is legally and constitutionally indefensible.
"They are separating people, creating buffer zones, though they don't officially admit it. This can only happen in foreign countries where you are doing a peacekeeping mission. You cannot do that in your own country because you are restricting people's right to go to their homes — a fundamental right under Article 19 of the Constitution," he said.
He acknowledged that temporary restrictions under Section 144 CrPC are permissible. But he said what is happening in Manipur is something different — a normalised, long-term separation of communities that has no legal basis.
"You have never done this in this country in any communal violence situation. I don't know why the government of India is doing this."
MP Blocked at Checkpoints, RTI Left Unanswered
Dr. Bimol said he has been personally stopped by security forces from visiting affected areas in his own constituency on more than one occasion — despite being a sitting Member of Parliament.
"I'm an MP, a member of parliament of our national assembly. And I was restricted from going there," he said. "I filed an RTI. They refused to answer."
He said the government denies that restrictions exist while simultaneously enforcing them. "This kind of dishonesty and blatant unconstitutional conduct is increasing distrust in security forces."
Assam Rifles Conducted Plain-Clothes Operation Without Police — Triggered Fresh Violence
The day before his address, a separate incident unfolded when Assam Rifles personnel allegedly went to recover drugs and weapons from a civilian area in plain clothes and without police escort, triggering another confrontation in Thinungei.
"Assam Rifles is a paramilitary force. If you are trying to recover drugs, you can have a unified team with police support. But you are going in civilian dress, in such a sensitive period, without police," Dr. Bimol said. "And then the incident happened again."
Red Cross Ambulance Stopped and Harassed — Video Goes Viral
A video circulating widely on social media shows security personnel stopping a clearly marked Red Cross ambulance and speaking aggressively to its occupants. Dr. Bimol condemned the incident without qualification.
"Red Cross ambulances are not touched even in wartime. It is clearly written on the vehicle. Whether it is our constitutional norm or international standard — this is not acceptable," he said.
Congress Submits 10-Point Demand, Calls Out PM's Absence
The Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee submitted a 10-point memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding among other things the formation of a Commission of Inquiry under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952, to investigate the three civilian deaths.
Dr. Bimol criticised the Prime Minister directly. "The Prime Minister is busy campaigning. This will be noted in the history of this country. Future generations will ask — why did they behave like that?"
'Manipur is Not a Vassal State'
Dr. Bimol closed with a direct message to New Delhi.
"Manipur is not a vassal state of an empire. It is a unit of the Union of India — where constitutional order must work, where Indian security forces must do their constitutional responsibility. They should not behave like a peacekeeping mission in a foreign country, separating citizens for three years. That is not done."
The Manipur ethnic conflict erupted on May 3, 2023, and has since claimed hundreds of lives and displaced tens of thousands. It remains unresolved.
