The Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD) came down heavily on the Manipur Police for the reported search operations on the homes of its leaders at midnight and termed the exercise as “condemnable” and an apparent bid to intimidate those leading the democratic movement.
Speaking during a press meet organized at Citizens Club, Wangkhei Soibam Leikai, convenor Jitendra Ningomba accused the police of conducting unnecessary searches and said that there was no need for the authorities to conduct the search operations in such a way. “Instead of such searches, the police can formally call us to have a talk. We are ready for that,” he stated.
Further, JFD co-convenor Sunil Karam complained that the police men conducted the searches inside their rooms, even underneath the bed, and all over the house, from the bathroom and other places. “The manner in which the searches were conducted by the police is highly unacceptable. They searched as though they are looking for terrorists,” he alleged.
Karam said that such actions were totally unacceptable on the part of the authorities and might worsen the already existing situation. “However, we don’t want any confrontation with the Government. What we expect is that the authorities discharge their responsibilities,” he said.
Moreover, he criticized the authorities for closing schools and colleges due to the ongoing agitation in the state and asserted that students must not be made to bear the brunt of the political situation. Reiterating his stand, Karam said that JFD will carry on with its democratic struggle with the people’s support till its demands are fulfilled.
The JFD demands deferring of the Census and implementing of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) first, asserting that the latter is necessary for the protection of the indigenous people.