Manipur violence: Unknown miscreants waylay immunization vaccine shipment in Kangpokpi, FIR lodged

Immunization vaccine meant for Kangpokpi district was allegedly waylaid and withheld along National Highway-2 on August 18 by some unknown miscreants at Meitei-dominated Sekmai village in the peripheral areas of Imphal West and Kangpokpi district.

The immunization vaccine meant for children below 10 years and pregnant women in Kangpokpi district was reportedly dispatched by the Health and Family Welfare Department, Government of Manipur.

In this regard, the Medical Department of the Committee on Tribal Unity, Sadar Hills Kangpokpi expressed strong disappointment while terming it as a "premeditated act of hooliganism" by the Meitei community.

The Co-convenor of CoTU's Medical Department, Manghekam said in a press conference this afternoon, said that apart from withholding the immunization vaccine, it is sad to learn that the Meira Paibis have restricted essential items including medical aids meant for the Kuki-Zo hill districts which are dispatched from the Centre and other philanthropic organizations from reaching its destination which is highly deplorable and condemnable.

He also pointed out that an FIR has been lodged by the authority concerned at Kangpokpi Police Station in connection with the waylaid and withholding of the immunization vaccine on August 18.

Manghekam also said that unlike the Imphal Valley, which housed two premiere medical institutes, a number of super-specialist doctors, and abundant medical supplies, the hill districts have none.

So, those internally displaced Kuki-Zo people, who had the means, opted for the neighbouring states for treatment but for those, who could not afford it, the initiative is taken by the Medical Department under Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) to provide medical aid and care from those dispatched medical supplies, he added.

He also highlighted that immunization of infants and children below 10 years is a long list due and unattended without the aid of the requisite medical supplies from outside the district.

He then said that in such a volatile situation an act of humanism must surpass all others as both the warring communities in conflict endured the same ramification of the war and this act of humanity is the only last resort to rebuild the broken bridge between the two.
 

Also read: Manipur: Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup refutes WKZIC allegations of involvement in Sopijang attack