Olympians, medal winners mull surrender of awards
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, May 30 2023:
Thirteen sports personal-ities and medal winners in inter-national meets on Tuesday urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to restore peace and harmony in Manipur at the earliest and to take stern action against Kuki mili-tants, warning they will otherwise return their medals and awards.
In a memorandum to the vis-iting Union Home Minister, the celebrity sportspersons said that the Kuki terrorists have been challenging the integrity of Manipur by killing people and burning down houses despite the deployment of large companies of central security forces.
"Paramilitary forces might have been reluctant to prevent Kuki terrorists from attacking innocent civilians," claimed the signatories, including Arjuna award winner weightlifter Kunjarani Devi, for-mer Indian women football team captain Oinam Bembem Devi, boxer L Sarita Devi, Dhyanchand awardee Anita Chanu, Olympian judoka Likmabam Shushila Devi, Olympic medallist Mirabai Chanu, and Dronacharya awardee (box-ing) L Ibomcha Singh.
They demanded the govern-ment revoke the Suspension of Operation (So0) agreement with the Kuki militant groups, to pro-tect unity and integrity of Mani-pur, and in rejection of demand to disintegrate Manipur, Meeteis be allowed to settle both in the hilly and valley areas, to deport illegal immigrants to their respec-tive countries, and ensure free movement of foods and essential supplies in the Imphal-Dimapur National Highway.
(With inputs from IANS) .