A massive number of protestors including students and several organisations on Monday took out a mammoth rally in Thoubal and Kakching districts, condemning the drone bombings and rocket attacks carried out by Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists upon the Meitei civilian population since September 1.
The protestors demanded an immediate intervention into the long-drawn conflict which has lasted more than 16 months in the strife-torn state by both the Central and state government and resolve it at the earliest.
In a confrontation, a police personnel sustained a bullet injury on the leg, while a vehicle was torched by the irate protestors, following which nine persons were detained by the police.
The participants of the rally vehemently condemned the Central and state government for failing to resolve the crisis which has completed more than 16 months and witnessing a further escalation every passing day.
Around 11 am, a large number of students gathered at the Thoubal district Headquarters near Thoubal college and commenced the rally towards the DC office complex at Thoubal Athokpam.
The protestors shouted slogans while raising banners and placards which read, ‘Remove the central forces who failed to protect the civilians and students in Manipur’, ‘Military drones in public places is a serious crime’, ‘Let the students pursue education’, ‘Save the future of Indigenous people of Manipur’, ‘Declare those attacking the with drones as international terrorists’ etc.
Later, representatives of the students submitted a memorandum which included several demands to the chief minister through Thoubal DC Ahanthem Subash.
Afterwards, an altercation ensued between the large number of protestors and the police, resulting in the firing of tear-gas shells. The enraged students and the protestors vandalised the gate of the DC office complex.
The rallyists moved towards the SP Office and started protesting, as a result of which a major confrontation further ensued. In a bid to control the crowd, the police fired tear gas shells and gunshots in the air.
Around 20 students sustained injuries during the confrontation while a personnel of Thoubal Police was hit by a bullet on his leg.
The injured police personnel along with the students were admitted at different medical institutions including Thoubal district hospital. The enraged protestors further torched a vehicle (Maruti Alto K10) which was found parked near the SP Office gate.
The police detained as many as nine protestors who were later released in the evening after local Meira Paibis intervened.
The injured cop has been identified as Ningombam Alexander, 35, of Thoubal Ningombam. He is posted as an escort party of the OC, Thoubal Police Station. The situation was finally brought under control around 2 pm.
Meanwhile, a public meeting organised by Khunnai Kanba Apunba Meira Paibi Lup was held at Thoubal Wangmataba where the participants shouted various slogans. The meeting took several demands which included immediate removal of Manipur security advisor and DGP. It also demanded that no village volunteers must be arrested or their arms confiscated.
Meanwhile, another massive rally was also taken out towards Kakching district headquarters by thousands of people from Kakching district.
The rally commenced from Kakching Sumak Leikai playground and passed through Kakching Keithel and Kakching police station. It also passed the stretch opposite Kakching Chumnang Deepa hall and culminated at Wairi Khunjampat ground.
The rallyists shouted slogans and displayed placards and banners which read, ‘Declare Kuki militants as terrorists’, ‘Manipur govt wake up’, ‘Immediately abrogate SoO agreement’, ‘Village volunteers must not be arrested’, ‘Handover unified command to CM’, ‘let IDPs return to their homes’, ‘remove buffer zones, ‘Remove inactive central forces’, ‘Sack Kuki MLAs’ etc.
In connection with the mass rally, All Kakching Clubs Co-ordinating Committee president Ksh Dramadas said that the rally was taken out in protest against the killing and injuring of civilians by drone bombings and missile attacks carried out by Kuki militants.
Several lives were taken while many have been left homeless and unable to return to their homes by the conflict which has lasted more than 16 months, he said. As the displaced people started losing hopes, the apathy shown by both the Central and State government is vehemently condemned by the people, he said.
“We condemn the protection of Kuki terrorists by the Central government in the name of SoO agreement and letting them invade the Meiteis. We are completely dissatisfied by how the state government has been rendered powerless and unable to take action under the Constitutional provisions.”
The people of Kakching are convinced that the attacks were carried out by the Kuki terrorists as a state sponsored terrorism in collusion with the Central Government. These attacks must be immediately stopped, and immediate actions must be undertaken to protect the territorial integrity of Manipur and the lives of the people of the state.
