Yairipok womenfolk rise in protest against Kuki aggression, Govt's silence
Source: The Sangai Express

Thoubal, September 15 2024: Meira paibis from Yairipok Laimanai, Top-Chingtha, Yambem, Nungaipokpi, Huikap, Angtha and Poiroukhongjin took out a mass rally and staged a sit-in protest condemning the brutal Kuki aggression against citizens of Manipur and the Government's frustrating silence on the matter.

Today's protest demonstration was organised by Yairipok Meira Paibi Lup.

Meira paibis from their respective localities made their way towards the Traffic Island at Yairipok Keithel in Thoubal accompanied with the shouting of slogans.

Following this, the protestors congregated at Yairipok Lamanai Thongkhong ground and jointly raised many slogans.

Later, a sit-in protest was held at Lamanai Multipurpose Community Hall.

During the massive protest, marketplaces and shops in the region remained shut.

The mass rally and sit-in protest was taken out under the banner of "Do Not Obliterate Manipur" and featured slogans such as "Go back Central Forces", "Uproot Kuki narco-terrorism", "We condemn Indian Government's silence", "We oppose arrest of village volunteers", "Manipur cannot be disintegrated", "Long live Manipur" etc.

Speaking on behalf of the protestors, Konthoujam Sanayai, secretary, Yairipok Meira Paibi Lup said that the tens of thousands of Central Forces deployed in the State are not safeguarding the people but are allegedly biased towards the Kuki militants who are turning their guns on civilians.

Stating that meira paibis strongly denounce Kuki aggression and attacks, she recalled that during the reign of Maharaja Budhachandra, Manipur was forcefully merged with the Indian union.

Instead of protecting the people of the State as rightful citizens of the country, Manipur is increasingly beginning to appear as an occupied State under the Indian Government, she alleged.

Demanding revocation of the Merger Agreement and restoration of Manipur to pre-merger status, she appealed for withdrawal of the Central Security Forces asserting that the people will guard and protect themselves.

If the people are responsible for the protection of the citizens and the land, peace will surely return one day, she said.

The meira paibi leader also stated that the attacks are launched by Kuki militants from the hills and yet the combing operations are carried out in the valley regions.

Strongly opposing such combing operations in the valley, she further decried "India's proxy war" which has allegedly inflicted numerous atrocities on the Meitei community.

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