Kongba women stage protest
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 15 2011:
Womenfolk of Kongba Torban Kshetri Leikai today staged a sit-in-protest demanding revocation of the ban imposed by armed group UPPK on hosting of a shumang Leela show (courtyard play).
The play was proposed to be hosted by local women group, Kongba Torban Kshetri Leikai Nupi Lamjing Lup in connection with the inauguration of its newly constructed office building on May 30 .
After completion all the arrangements, the secretary of the Shumang Leela group informed the organisers that the group was not coming as underground group UPPK had asked them not to perform at the locality.
According to the protesters, the office building was constructed with the monetary and material donations from different individuals including local MLA Bijoy Koijam.
The building was inaugurated on May 23 last with aspiring Assembly election candidate Thongam Bishwajit as chief guest.
The shumang leela was earlier decided to organise on the same day but postponed to May 30 due to bad weather.
Saying that there was no political influence in the inauguration of the office building and organising the play at the locality, the protesting women urged the concerned UG outfit not to interfere in such petty matters and revoke the ban.