Imphal, March 21: To protest the victimisation of common people in the ongoing armed conflict between the security forces and the underground activities, All Andro Meira Paibi Apunba Lup organised a Wakat Meepham at the ground of Andro Loupauchum LP School today.

The protest demonstration attended by a large number of people was held from 10 am to 4 pm.

Mention may be made there was an exchange of heavy firing between the personnel of 32 Assam Rifles and some underground activists on March 13 night after the UGs attacked the security post located atop the hillock at Andro Nungkot Khuman.

Though there was no report of any casualty on either side, the incident sparked fear and panic among the local people.

Talking to media-persons, the protestors who took part in the Wakat Meepham informed that both the security forces and the underground activists seem to have used heavy and sophisticated weapons during the encounter.

After the firing encounter, all the people of the area have fled leaving behind their hearths and homes, they said.

The protestors further said that most of the people living in Andro area are simple illiterate villagers and they are on side of neither the security forces nor the underground activists.

Keeping security post at Andro and the frequent instances of attack at his security post by the underground activities has disturbed the peace and tranquillity of the area, they lamented, adding that the people are now living in a state of perpetual fear and dread.

The demonstrators who used placards with slogans like 'No firing inside the village', 'We want peace not bullet', 'We stand for peace', etc during the Wakat Meepham also complained against the restriction imposed on the movement of the villagers by the Assam Rifles after the UG attack.

'The Assam Rifles are here to safeguard the people, they should not cause suffering to the people', said one of the protestors.