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India Today
3 days ago
- 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
4 days ago
- 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.
