Boxing Icon Mary Kom prays for Manipur after 120 days of violence
SPORT
Imphal: After almost 120 days of violence, boxing icon Mangte Chungneijang Mary Kom on Thursday urged the Central and State governments to immediately bring peace and normalcy for the ‘sake of the populace and to save lives’ in Manipur.
Stating that her ‘Kom’ community is one of the indigenous tribes of Manipur and smallest among the minorities, the former Rajya Sabha member said that despite being topographically dispersed across the state, her community has been peacefully coexist with every community without experiencing any conflict. Up until this point, the Kom have always maintained their neutrality in all matters and have consistently maintained that they are neither Nagas nor Kukis. This has been their position for generations, Mary said in a letter addressed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The world boxing champion also urged both the parties in the conflict to refrain in any way involving, instigating, or casting any doubt on the Kom community, who are in general ‘innocent’ and powerless as they have little to do with the ongoing conflict. “The terrible thing is that, due to our weak internal administration and tiny size as a community among the minority tribes, we have not been able to stand against any forces that intrude our jurisdiction. Hence, we seek the help of the security forces to prevent both warring groups from intrusion to Kom villages,” Mary said in her letter.
She further said her community hasn’t been a part of the current Meitei and Kuki-Zo conflict. Even so, they have been affected by the wave in several aspects though unseen. It should be noted that none of the Kom villages engage armed volunteers with bunkers, but because they are all dispersed between the two rivaling communities in the periphery, there are always speculations and doubts against my community from both sides, we are caught in the middle of all problems, she continued.