People from various sections of Thangmeiband staged a sit-in protest on Monday at Ima Panthoibi Shanglen, Thangmeiband Meisnam Leikai against the alleged brutal gangrape of a married woman by Kuki miscreants on May 3 at Churachandpur.
The protest also decried the utter administrative failure of both state and central government to swiftly rein in the Manipur crisis.
The protest was organised by the Peace Restoration and Rehabilitation Committee of Manipur (PERERECOM).
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the protest, PERERECOM general secretary Moirang Meghanchandra condemned the selective outcry of the central government over the present crisis and maintained that the centre's silence on the whole issue was a clear indicator of how the union government viewed the Manipuri people.
"When the viral video surfaced, all sections of Manipur, including the Meiteis, condemned the atrocious act but when a report of a more gruesome case surfaced there has been no such focus from the Centre; the viral video case was handed over to CBI for swift investigation and the victims were provided monetary aids but the same energy is lacking in the gangrape case," he said.
He further condemned the Prime Minister's short stint on the viral video which painted an entire community in defiling limelight.
He also demanded authorities concerned to resettle the displaced victims back to their original locations and rebuild their residences.
"Setting up temporary prefabricated homes for the displaced people is good but that cannot be the long-term solution; the people have to be shifted to their original places and authorities should ensure they are able to do so,” he said.
He further stated that it would benefit the creation of a separate administration if the government failed to remove the sharp divide between the two communities.
Meanwhile, Heirok Part (II) Keithel Mamang Leikai Meira Paibis and Friends In Need Society (FINE Society) Club jointly staged a sit-in protest condemning the alleged gangrape of a 37-year-old Meitei woman from Khumujamba Meitei Leikai in Churachandpur on May 3, the day the ethnic violence erupted in the state.
The protest held at Heirok Keithel Meirasang demanded the government to book the Kuki culprits involved in the gang rape and award befitting punishment.
Taking part in the protest, one Meira Paibi Ningthoujam ongbi Piyainu Leima urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take up similar action against those Kuki miscreants who gang raped a Meitei woman like the action taken up against those involved in the viral video. She also condemned the government for not taking up steps to resolve the ongoing violence.
Placards which read, “Punish Kuki rapist”, “Hand over the case to CBI”, "We want justice for the victim", “Implement NRC in Manipur”, "Go Back Assam Rifles", were displayed by protestors.
(With inputs from our Thoubal Correspondent)
