Heirok rally for peace, decries threats
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 24: In protest against imposition of not just various restrictions but also subjecting them to threats and intimidation over the issue of setting up SPO, thousands of Heirok villagers took out a peace march today.

After the peace march taken out from Heirok to Imphal under the joint aegis of JAC Heirok and Peoples' Organisation for Civil Integrity and Liberty (POCIL), a public meeting was also held at Hafta Kangjeibung here today.

The State Government decided to deploy SPOs following the demand of the Heirok people to provide arms to protect themselves in the wake of violent incident on March 24 this year which claimed three persons and blinded another.

People of Heirok who tried to take out a peace rally to protest the ban imposed on them as well as the shooting of a man

Coming out strong against the Government decision of setting up SPOs, three underground organisations have imposed various restrictions on the people of Heirok even from venturing outside their village.

Moreover, in July this year, a passenger bus plying to Heirok area had been hijacked and fired upon another bus at Wangjing Tekcham Leikai.

A man from Heirok identified as L Shantikumar Meitei who had a chemist shop at Lamphel had also shot dead on September 15 .

Today's rally was taken out in protest against these violence incidents and intimidations.

After the congregation of the people at the public ground of Heirok Part-II Mayai Leikai from 11.30 am onwards, the protest peace march finally kicked off around 1 pm today.

After coming together from Heirok till Imphal in a large number of vehicles including two wheelers, buses, Tata trucks, etc, the protestors walked down till Hafta Kangjeibung carrying placards inscribed with slogans like 'Don't banned us, we are not criminals', 'Justice after killing is meaningless', 'We decry war' 'We love a peaceful life', 'Lift restrictions imposed on Heirok people', 'Gun is not for innocent people' etc in hands.

After the rallyists converged at Hafta Kangjeibung, a public meeting was convened with the permission of the State Government.

Ahead of the arrival of the rallyists, police officials including SP of Imphal East had arranged the route.

It was planned that from Wangkhei-Kongba Road, the rallyists would be allowed to enter the Hafta Kangjeibung ground through Palace Compound from the side of Bhagyachandra Open Air Theatre.

The police erected barricades along the road on the side of Bodhachandra College to ensure that the rallyists do not enter from that side.

However, the protestors coming along the Wangkhei-Kongba Road shouting slogans decrying alleged use of Heirok people as human shields, killing innocent people, killing without justification and demanding safety and security of the people, tried to break through the barricades on their way to the meeting venue.

Infuriated at the police action, the protestors picked up stones from the road sides and marched ahead till Pureiromba Khongnang Makhong side where they started pelting stones on the Police Commandos deployed in the area.

In order to control the situation, the police commandos fired tear gas shells forcing the rallyists to run helter-skelter for cover.

After the situation was brought under control, the public meeting was held at Hafta Kangjeibung.