Womenfolk of 14 localities of Wangoi area on Wednesday staged a sit-in-protest at Wangoi Bazaar in Imphal West decrying the alleged bias act of Assam Rifles in the present Manipur crisis.
This comes amidst reports that 18 MLAs from the state have left for New Delhi to apprise the centre about the alleged bias acts of the Assam Rifles.
The protest was staged under the banner “Sit-in-protest against Assam Rifles’ Brutal Assault on Meitei Civilians” with the support of Youth Development Union Club.
Locals from Wangoi, Samurou, Naorem, Oinam Sawombung, Wangoi Pangal, Khaidem, Leiphrakpam, Laiphrakpam Wangma, Iram Siphai, Yumnam Huidrom, Wangoi Kabui, Thiyam, Thongkhong and Luxmi Bazar participated in the protest.
Protestors demonstrated placards that read, “Remove the infamous Assam Rifles from the soil of Manipur”, “We condemn Assam Rifles and their brutalities on Meitei civilians”, “No more trips to Delhi, call PM Modi here” and “Enough is enough, no more Kukis, no more AR” and others.
One of the protestors, Sagolsem Asha, told the media that people have witnessed on different occasions the alleged biased actions of the Assam Rifles which is meant to protect the people equally irrespective of caste, creed and community. The womenfolk of the 14 localities of Wangoi area strongly condemned the act of Assam Rifles in the present turmoil, she said.
She said, during the Pallel incident on September 8, Assam Rifles personnel fired tear gas shells, live bullets and assaulted the women protestors intentionally to hurt the unarmed women protestors in the name of controlling the mob.
Among the injured from the Assam Rifles action, 10 were from Samurou and Wangoi including bullet injuries, she claimed.
Various incidents have been witnessed in Manipur where Assam Rifles personnel allegedly assaulted the public brutally, Asha stated.
The central paramilitary forces were not deployed to save the public but to kill, it seems, she alleged, adding that there is no need for the forces to stay in Manipur.
Drawing the attention of leaders of the state government, she said they should take immediate steps to remove force from Manipur.
Earlier, the state government had also condemned, in the strongest terms, the high handedness of the Assam Rifles towards the public and even CM Biren expressing that the state government will apprise the situation to the centre.
The 18 MLAs who left for Delhi comprise of Education Minister Thounaojam Basanta; Social Welfare Minister Heikham Dingo Singh, K Robindro Singh, Y Radheshyam Singh, U Deben Singh, Kh Ibomcha Singh, S Premchandra Singh, S Kunjakeshwor, S Kebi Devi, T Robindro Singh, S Rajen Singh, Kh Joykisan Singh, Th Arun Kumar Singh, Kh Loken Singh, M Loken Singh, M Rameshwar Singh, I Nalini Devi, Th Shanti Singh, and Md Abdul Nasir.
It is reported that some of the MLAs are already stationed at Delhi while some of them departed for Delhi on Tuesday.
