Left echoes Imphal, wants forces out of Kangla Fort

Claiming to have taken up cudgels on behalf of the Manipuris, CPI leaders say Kangla Fort is the seat of power and culture of the locals, and they want Assam Rifles out of it. The CPI leaders have met everyone concerned — from PM Manmohan Singh to Home Minister Shivraj Patil and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

‘‘The rape and murder of the woman (Manorama Devi) by Assam Rifles personnel has given a fresh impetus to our demand. It is a ghastly incident which has evoked unprecedented protests in the state. For the first time in India, agitating women came out naked to protest. I took this up with Sonia Gandhi. I told her that Assam Rifles has to vacate Kangla Fort. She was sympathetic,’’ CPI national secretary D. Raja told The Indian Express.

‘‘It is not our demand, but that of the Manipuris,’’ Raja said. However, sources said, the CPI was addressing their political constituency in the state.

Home Ministry officials say, the issue came up every time there was a Left-supported government at the Centre. The issue was also raised when senior party leaders petitioned Shivraj Patil, claiming that instead of vacating the Fort, Assam Rifles personnel were erecting fenced walls around it ‘‘with utter disregard for the people’s sentiments’’.

The CPI also asked for increasing the strength of the Indian Reserve Battalion and raising a Manipur Regiment to curb insurgency in the state. And this is the reason Assam Rifles gives for staying on at the Fort. In their reply to the MHA, the Assam Rifles said they had been asked to induct another IG headquarters, two sector headquarters and eight to 10 battalions in view of the ‘‘high tide’’ in insurgency. ‘‘This induction is at the request of the Manipur government,’’ the reply added. The Assam Rifles said ‘‘total vacation of Kangla has never been contemplated nor is it practical.’’ The reply reiterated that they would retain 46 acres of the area, which had been bought by the Centre from the state.