'Mothers' demand amnesty for village volunteers
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 15 2025: Village volunteers who have been facing Kuki narco-terrorists to protect Manipur's integrity must not be arrested.

Instead, they should be given general amnesty, said Khun Ngakpa-singgi Mama, a mothers' association today.

Speaking to reporters at Manipur Press Club today, RK (ongbi) Tombisana, a member of the association, said they condemn arrests of village volunteers in the strongest terms.

When Meitei villages were attacked by Kuki narco-terrorists and the State's integrity was threatened, the village volunteers had no choice but to defend and protect their people, villages and the State's integrity, she said.

When men, women and children were killed by Kuki narco-terrorists, there was not enough security and protection for the people.

This forced youths to come out as village volunteers and defend their families and community, she added.

Village volunteers must never be treated as criminals or militants.

They shouldn't be arrested or punished for defending themselves and their people.

They should be given general amnesty, said Tombisana.

Meanwhile, the imposition of President's Rule instead of forming a new Government is against the interest of the people, and is condemned in the strongest term, she said.

The President's Rule should be lifted and a new Government must be formed at the earliest in the interest of the people and to resolve the crisis, she said.

Partly blaming the State legislators for the imposition of the President's Rule, she said more village volunteers have been arrested during the PR.

The village volunteers who were arrested yesterday from Heirok should be set free at the earliest, she added.

The President's Rule must end and a new Government must be formed.

The National Register of Citizens (NRC) must be updated to identify illegal immigrants and deport them, she stressed.

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