No IRB, commandos in hills : Rally
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, July 02 2009: Another massive rally to register a strong protest against the deployment of IRB and police commandos in hill areas carried out at Noney in Tamenglong district today after the Ukhrul rally on June 26 .

The rally was jointly organised by the Zeliangrong Students Union, students, members of other civil organisations and the villagers of the surrounding areas also took part.

Rallyists turning back from in front of Assam Rifles camp at Noney for a meeting at Noney on Thursday

Today's rally was kicked off from Noney Bazar.

After reaching 26 Assam Rifles camp gate then backed to the orginal place where a public meeting was held.

All shops and other establishments at Noney Bazar were closed for the day as the mark of solidarity to the demand to review the government decision on opening IRB and police commando posts in the hill districts.

Rallyists participating in the march carried slogans like "We condemn Ibobi's decision, don't send law breakers in hills, hill people are peace loving people, IRB stands for Indian Reserved Bastard," etc.

Speaking at the public meeting held after the rally, Kanan Kamson, chairman, Longmai Area Authority Council said the cabinet decision to deploy IRB and police commandos in the hill areas is laudable but as they are killing people in whatever the manner they like instead of protecting life and security of the people in thickly populated area of Imphal.

When they do such lawless acts even in the thickly populated area in Imphal, what would happen in the thinly populated hill areas? "I feel worried, at same time afraid too," Kanan added.

As currently, Indo-Naga peace talk is going on, there is no serious breach of tranquility in the hill areas which means there is no need for IRB or police commandos in the area.

The deploying central paramilitary is enough to maintain public tranquility, he further observed.

Chunthuigai Kamei, state secretary ZSU, Manipur said the deployment of IRB and police commandos in the hills, instead of controlling the law and order of the area, will increase it.

This will amount to break the peaceful existence of the hill people.

So, they will not allow deploying these forces at any cost.

Many other representatives of civil organizations and public leaders like Athui Kamei, secretary Longmai Areas Nisha Bandh, Gideon Riamei, secretary Longmai Bazar Board also spoke in the meeting.

At the concluding part, the meeting two point resolution was drafted.

It included to condemn in strongest term, the government decision with regard to the deployment of IRB and police commandos in the hill areas and demand to review it and to support at any protest agitation launch in protest against the government move.