Imphal: Inner Manipur MP A. Bimol Akoijam on Saturday evening alleged he was denied entry to Phougakchou-Ikhai Makha Leikai Keithel (Bazar) in Bishnupur district, a part of his parliamentary constituency, despite a significant deployment of security forces, including the Indian Army. The incident, which the MP highlighted on his official X handle, has sparked fresh debate on the state of affairs in the crisis-hit region.
Akoijam, an elected Member of Lok Sabha, expressed his dismay at being stopped from visiting the market, while, according to him, civilians from other communities, specifically Pangals, were allowed passage through the very same area. This disparity, he contended, points to a deeper, more troubling issue.
In a strongly worded statement, Akoijam asserted that the incident “speaks of the clandestine ways through which the state has been nurturing a communally founded division of Manipur and drawing up and enforcing an imaginary and unconstitutional line, the so-called ‘buffer zone,’ in support of communal forces in the state.” His remarks underscore a growing concern among some political quarters regarding the perceived strategic divisions within Manipur.
The MP further stressed that the ongoing turmoil in Manipur can only be resolved through “honest and determined efforts—not lies and cynical approaches,” calling for genuine political will to address the root causes of the crisis. He concluded his statement with a poignant appeal for “truth, justice, and peace” to prevail in the state.