Womenfolk in violence-hit Manipur continued to take centre-stage in the protests staged against the act of violence perpetrated on innocent civilians in the state, as fresh turn of events continued to keep the state in turmoil.
The women groups strongly protested against repeated attacks on innocent civilians by militants under SoO (Suspension of Operation) in the peripheral areas and the demand for a separate administration by 10 Kuki MLAs.
They demanded removal of security forces from some areas of the state and restoration of peace and normalcy and integrity of Manipur.
Members of the Chirom Leikai Nupee Lamjing Lup, Singjamei Chirom Leikai, Imphal and many other womenfolk of the locality on Thursday carried out protest demonstration at the locality’s community hall.
Speaking to the media during the sit-in protest jointly organised by the Association and Youth Convention Imphal, Chirom Leikai Nupee Lamjing Lup member Chirom Shakhitombi said the protest was held to safeguard the indigenous Meitei community and integrity of Manipur as a whole.
She expressed apprehension over the future of Meitei community and Manipur in view of the prevailing communal crisis in the state.
She expressed grief that many people of the community are left homeless following attacks by Kuki militants and cases of violence continue to rise every day in the peripheral areas. Shakhitombi condemned the state government for allegedly remaining a silent spectator and failing to do the needful to safeguard the people and the state. She appealed to restore peace and normalcy in the state at the earliest.
Various placards which read ‘Stop Attacking Villagers by Kuki Militants’, ‘Down With Narco-Terrorism’, ‘Immediate NRC, Need of the Hour’, ‘Down With Separatist Legislature’ etc. were displayed during the protest.
Police foil attempt to dismantle barricade
Unknown miscreants tried to destroy the barricade near Moreh Police Station in Tengnoupal district on Thursday at around 9 am. Police fired shots in the air to disperse the people, but no casualties were reported from the incident.
Meanwhile, miscreants reportedly dismantled the houses of displaced villagers and already burned down houses in Khuga Tampak, Khumujamba Meitei Leikai and Mandop Leikai under the jurisdiction of Churachandpur Police Station by using excavators on Thursday at around 5pm.
Macha Leima for Manipur integrity
The Macha Leima on Thursday urged the government to defend the territorial integrity of Manipur and stated that as the majority community, the Meiteis play an important role in safeguarding the identities of other communities for the territorial integrity Manipur.
A statement issued by Macha Leima urged the people from different sections to let go of exclusive interests and strive together to safeguard the territorial integrity of the state. As the previous government fended for the territorial integrity of Manipur, the present government should also work with the people for the same, it continued.
It maintained that a team of Macha Leima had been distributing essential items such as rice, dal, cooking oil and salt, potatoes, snacks for children, sanitary pads, first aid kits, bed sheets and clothes etc., to the various relief camps including SEYA club at MoirangKhunouMakhaLeikai, Kumbi Awang High Schoola and Heingang High School.
“The team also visited relief camps at the periphery areas including SenjamChirang, Kadangband, YairipokNungbrang and TorbungMamangLeikai at Bishnupur district and found that the aids and supports of the government did not reach these regions. The team also found lack of proper security forces in the regions,” it read.
It drew the immediate attention of the government to arrange a means for the refugees from Moreh and Churachandpur to return to their home and live safely. It condemned the 10 MLAs demanding separate administrations and also urged the union and state government to withdraw the SoO agreement with the Kuki militants.
“The illegal immigrants’ activities of settling in reserved forest areas and using poppy cultivation as a means to boost their economy adversely affects the ecological balance of Manipur,” it stated. The National Register of Citizens (NRC) should be implemented in Manipur immediately to check the influx of illegal immigrant in the state, it added.
