Congress MP Dr. Angomcha Bimol Akoijam expressed frustration after being barred from visiting the Saiton blast site due to buffer zone restrictions.
By PC Bureau
January 7, 2026: Congress MP from Inner Manipur, Dr. Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, on Tuesday voiced strong displeasure over being prevented by central security forces from visiting the site of recent IED blasts in Saiton Nganukon village of Bishnupur district, calling the restrictions imposed under so-called “buffer zones” unconstitutional and deeply divisive.
The blasts occurred on January 5, when two consecutive IED explosions injured two civilians near an abandoned Meitei house along the inter-district border between Bishnupur and Churachandpur. Senior police officials, including the Inspector General of Police and the Bishnupur Superintendent of Police, visited the site, and the case has since been handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which has been widely condemned as a cowardly assault on civilians.
On January 6, Dr. Akoijam attempted to inspect the blast site but was stopped at a checkpoint manned by the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and other central forces, citing buffer zone protocols. Standing near the checkpoint with security personnel in the background, the MP questioned the logic and legality of such restrictions.
“This is where the border of India begins. I cannot go to this side because this is being treated like an India–Kuki border,” he said, drawing a parallel with international boundaries. “There are buffers everywhere as if this is between Pakistan and India.”
Referring to past communal conflicts elsewhere in the country, Akoijam said, “There have been many incidents in this country, even between Muslims and Hindus, but no such buffer zone has ever existed.”
Expressing personal anguish, he added, “I feel ashamed to sit here as a Member of Parliament when I cannot move freely in my own state. This is Manipur, where police work and MPs should be able to walk freely. Here, I cannot, despite the huge presence of security forces.”
#Manipur #Update
1) The @kzc2024 has reiterated its stance that minority tribal Kuki-Zo people cannot be part of any popular government in Manipur.
2) MP @Bimol_Akoijam went to the buffer zones to remind his people that it is there to exist till a political solution is reached. pic.twitter.com/ABTjbdzRVR— David 𝐊𝐮𝐤𝐢 (@KipsKuki) January 6, 2026
The MP warned that prolonged restrictions risk deepening alienation. “The rest of the country cannot sleep like this. The more people feel alienated, the more dangerous the consequences will be,” he said, cautioning against labelling Manipur or its people as anti-national.
Questioning the role of the forces enforcing the restrictions, Akoijam said, “You are working against the Constitution itself. I am a Member of Parliament, yet I cannot go freely in my own country.”
Directly addressing Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he urged them to reconsider the policy. “You are dividing my home state by putting up this illegal buffer zone,” he said, criticising the use of terminology usually associated with international conflicts. “These terms are meant for international borders, not within a state.”
He also highlighted what he described as discriminatory enforcement, alleging that people were stopped based on whether they belonged to the Meitei or Kuki communities. “Is this what the Constitution teaches us?” he asked.
Calling for an end to what he termed a “drama,” Akoijam said, “Finish the buffer zone. The sooner this ends, the better it will be for everyone.” Holding the central leadership responsible, he said Manipur had reached this point under their watch.
READ: “Submissive” COTU Beseeches Centre on Govt Formation, Kuki-Zo MLAs
In a defiant closing remark, the MP asserted that constitutional values would ultimately prevail. “We will see who wins in the end—those who try to divide the state through illegal measures, or those who trust the Constitution and the rule of law. History will tell.”
Buffer zones enforced by central forces, including the Army and Assam Rifles, have remained a major flashpoint since ethnic violence erupted in May 2023 between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, leaving over 200 people dead and displacing thousands. Dr. Akoijam has repeatedly described the zones as “imaginary and unconstitutional,” arguing that they restrict free movement and deepen ethnic divisions.
The Saiton blasts have renewed calls for accountability, with Meitei civil society organisations announcing shutdowns and demanding swift action, while Kuki-Zo groups have condemned the violence but questioned attempts to blame their community.
With Manipur under President’s Rule since November 2025, the MP’s remarks have amplified demands for parliamentary debate on what he has described as an “ethically and constitutionally unacceptable” situation in the state.
