LIMIT protests in Delhi for peace, NRC in state
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, February 23 2024: Demanding restoration of peace, implementation of National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur and abrogation of the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement signed with Kuki armed groups, Lamyanba Irawat Memorial Integrated Trust (LIMIT) president trans-woman Malem Thongam launched a solitary hunger strike in Delhi from Thursday with the support of Delhi Meitei Coordinating Committee and Manipuris based in Delhi.

Meanwhile, Burari police detained Malem Thongam and others in connection with the protest.

They were later released but Malem continued on with the hunger strike.

On Friday, Malem led a team and tried to meet Rajya Sabha MP Dr RK Ranjan at his Lodi Estate residence.

However, all six protestors including Malem, LIMIT general secretary and four others (one female, three male) were detained by a team of Tughlak police station.

In this regard, LIMIT president Malem said that after being detained by police on Thursday, he continued with the hunger strike inside the campus of Burari PS.

On Friday, they attempted to meet MP Dr RK Ranjan but as the MP had left earlier, they decided to wait for the MP's return only to be driven away by large number of security personnel.

Later, police detained him and other transwomen along with one man and two other women, Malem conveyed.

According to agency reports, Delhi police detained nine agitators from Manipur who are demanding early restoration of peace and harmony in the strife-hit state.

The hunger strike launched under the leadership of Malem Thongam, a transgender and also president of the Lamyanba Irawat Memorial Integrated Trust, (LIMIT) was foiled by the team of the Burari police station, Delhi.

The LIMIT president along with eight volunteers was arrested around 5 pm Thursday on the charge of violating 144, CrPC in force in front of the Arts Faculty, Delhi University.

The placards and banners seized by the police from the agitating spot read as "Hunger strike to restore peace and harmony in Manipur", "Update NRC in Manipur", "Abrogate SoO" and "Restore peace in Manipur" .

To draw the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the early restoration of peace and harmony in the strife-torn state of Manipur, the Malem sat on a hunger strike in Delhi on Thursday.

The 23-year-old student studying in a Delhi educational institute launched the hunger strike alone at the gate of the Arts Faculty of Delhi University on Thursday.

The hunger would be continued until the government at the Centre led by Prime Minister Modi finds out an amicable settlement in the ongoing Manipur crisis, Malem Thongam told the newsmen while staging the strike.

The ethnic violence between the Meeteis and Kukis entered around ten months but so far no positive measures have been taken up, he said, adding that over 200 persons of both communities lost their lives and over 61, 000 individuals were displaced.

Comment