Latest news with #AngomchaBimolAkoijam
India Today
02-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Barred in own constituency, Manipur Congress MP slams buffer zone enforcement
Congress MP from Inner Manipur, Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, has criticised what he called an "unconstitutional and imaginary buffer zone" enforced by security forces in parts of the conflict-hit at his residence in Imphal on Tuesday, Bimol raised serious concerns about being denied entry into a locality within his own constituency, alleging that such actions were violative of the fundamental rights guaranteed under the Indian Congress MP said he was stopped on June 29 by security forces while trying to visit Phougakchou-Ikhai Makha Leikai Keithel in Bishnupur district, an area that falls under his parliamentary constituency. "Stopping an Indian citizen - especially an elected Member of Parliament - from moving freely within his own constituency is a direct violation of Article 19 of the Indian Constitution," Bimol said, calling the move an example of growing authoritarianism and institutional bias. He alleged that security forces, particularly the 6 Assam Rifles, were actively enforcing a non-existent buffer zone that had originally been put in place in May 2023 to curb mob violence. According to him, the so-called buffer zone is now being used selectively to prevent Meitei individuals, including elected leaders, from entering certain areas while members of other communities are allowed free is not just about me being stopped. It's about covert, communal segregation being carried out under the guise of security. It's creating a dangerous precedent," Bimol said. Taking to social media, he highlighted the incident, arguing that such enforcement amounts to institutionalised discrimination between the Meitei and Kuki pointed to recent incidents of violence and obstruction against Meitei farmers, including an alleged attack in Imphal East on June 16 and another in Phubala on June 20, where farmers were reportedly prevented from accessing their land. Bimol claimed these actions reflect a coordinated attempt to intimidate Meiteis and deter them from farming on their own dismay, he stated that such barriers only serve to divide the people of Manipur and increase communal mistrust. "Manipur is not divided by communal ideology. The continued enforcement of this so-called buffer zone only deepens mistrust and weakens unity," he of now, there has been no official response from the security forces to the allegations made by the Congress MP.- EndsMust Watch
Hindustan Times
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Manipur Congress MP alleges he was stopped from visiting area in his constituency
IMPHAL: Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, Lok Sabha MP from Inner Manipur, has said that he was stopped from visiting Phougakchou-Ikhai Makha Leikai Keithel in Bishnupur district, which falls within his parliamentary constituency, on Monday. Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, Congress Lok Sabha MP from Inner Manipur. The Congress MP said it happened despite the heavy presence of security forces, including the Indian Army, and alleged that there was an 'imaginary and unconstitutional buffer zone', which violates Article 19 of the Indian Constitution and fosters communal division, in the strife-torn state. Speaking to the media at his Imphal residence on Tuesday, Bimol sai dthat preventing an Indian citizen, let alone an elected Member of Parliament from freely moving within his own constituency, was a blatant breach of constitutional rights. He accused security forces of implicitly supporting the buffer zone concept, which, he claimed, was fueling division between communities in Manipur. 'The enforcement of an imaginary and unconstitutional buffer zone reflects a communally driven agenda that is deepening divisions in Manipur,' Bimol said, adding that the government had already clarified that no such zone officially exists. Despite this, he claimed, security forces continue to act as if one does. In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, the Congress MP wrote: 'I, an elected Member of Lok Sabha, was stopped from visiting Phougakchou-Ikhai Makha Leikai Keithel in Bishnupur District, which falls within my parliamentary constituency (Inner Manipur) today, despite the heavy presence of security forces, including the Indian Army. Tellingly, civilians belonging to other communities (such as Pangals) are allowed to travel through the same place right in front of me. It speaks of the clandestine ways through which the state has been nurturing a communally founded division of Manipur and enforcing an unconstitutional buffer zone.' Bimol further clarified that his attempt to visit the market area was not provocative and accused the security forces, specifically the 6 Assam Rifles, who erected the barricade in May 2023, of contributing to ongoing tensions. The so-called buffer zone was initially set up to control mobs but has since become a symbol of communal segregation, he said. 'Manipur is not divided by communal ideology,' he said. The MP further said, 'For the past few months, farmers have been facing attacks from armed militants intended to instill fear and discourage agricultural activity.' He cited two recent incidents, one in Imphal East on June 16 and another in Bishnupur on June 20. In the Imphal East incident, he alleged that members of the Kuki community prevented Meitei farmers from working in their fields, claiming the land was disputed and did not belong to the Meiteis. In the second case, a farmer sustained bullet injuries after allegedly being attacked by armed Kuki militants at Phubala, located on the volatile border between Meitei-majority Bishnupur and Kuki-dominated Churachandpur.
Hans India
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Manipur: Shirui Lily Festival kicks off amid tight security
Imphal: The five-day-long Shirui Lily Festival began in Manipur's Ukhrul district on Tuesday amidst tight security. The festival, organised by the Manipur Tourism Department, is being held for the first time since ethnic violence broke out in the state in May 2023. The inaugural ceremony at Heritage Ground in Ukhrul district's Vangayan village was graced by Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla. A media team from the state capital en route to cover the opening ceremony of the festival was forced to return to Imphal, allegedly after some security personnel blocked their bus at Gwaltabi in Imphal East district. All Manipur Working Journalists Union (AMWJU) and Editors Guild Manipur (EGM) in protest against the incident and demanding actions against the "perpetrators" jointly announced to launch a 'pen down strike' on Wednesday (May 21) and suspend all normal professional duties by the journalists fraternity. The AMWJU and the EGM, in a joint letter to the Governor, said that the security personnel instructed the media team to hide the writing 'Manipur State Transport Corporation' printed on the front of the bus carrying 20 Journalists and some Information Department officials. 'The instruction raised concern and confusion among the media professionals, who questioned the logic behind hiding a state government name while operating within the state,' the letter said. The incident triggered huge anger and protests among the Meitei community people in the valley region, with some organisations holding protest rallies in the capital city. Opposition Congress, Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), an umbrella body of the Meitei community, Congress' Lok Sabha member Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, BJP's Rajya Sabha member from Manipur Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba, and many other leaders and organisations protested the incident. Congress Spokesperson Ningombam Bupenda Meitei on Tuesday said that the party expressed serious concern on the failure of the state, including the Union government, to ensure effective free movement of all citizens and persons in the entire Manipur state since May 3, 2023. 'We urge both the Central government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Manipur Governor, as the state is placed under President's Rule, to uphold the Constitution in order to ensure the free movement of all in Manipur state,' the Congress Spokesperson said. In view of the festival, the Manipur government has taken huge security measures after reported threats by some individuals and organisations to the Meitei community against entering Kuki tribal-dominated areas during the Shirui Lily Festival. The Kuki-Zo Council (KZC), the apex body of the Kuki-Zo-Hmar tribal community, also, however, did not support the 'Kuki Zo Village Volunteers Eastern Zone' reported warning to the Meitei community. Shirui Lily Festival, mostly organised by the Meitei community, is celebrated in honour of the state flower, Shirui Lily. Underlining its ecological importance, the celebration takes place during the peak blooming season of the Shirui Lily, a rare and endangered flower that can only be found in Manipur. Shirui lily grows on top of the Shirui hills in Ukhrul district and cannot be replanted anywhere else in the world. The state flower of Manipur fills the air with its pleasant fragrance during the blooming season. The festival is observed primarily to spread awareness and conserve the endangered state flower. The festival provides an opportunity for people from various communities and tribes to come together, explore the highest hill station of Manipur, the picturesque Ukhrul district and get deeper insights about the Tangkhul Naga tribe dwelling here.
