CSOs warn of strong protests
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 13 2024: Demanding unconditional release of the three members of the Pambei-led UNLF by Thursday noon, eight organisations have warned of strong protest movements.

Speaking to media persons at DMU campus this afternoon, Federation of Civil Societies (FOCS) president Th Manihar said that the Pambei-led UNLF's army chief Th Thoiba alias Sidaba Mapu, Chief Intelligence Officer Lt Col L Ingba and Corporal Landaba were arrested by the NIA today.

It is a matter of grave concern that three members of the outfit have been arrested by NIA after the same outfit had signed a peace agreement with the Government of India at the invitation of the latter, Manihar said.

CSOs warn of strong protests

Questioning if the Government of India was planning to eliminate insurgents after inviting them to dialogue processes, Manihar asserted that the Government of India must be held solely responsible if the peace agreement signed with the Pambei-led UNLF gets derailed because of the arrest of the three members by NIA, the FOCS president said.

If the three arrested members are not released by tomorrow noon, FOCS and seven other organisations would launch different modes of intense agitation, he warned.

Manipur Keithel Nupi Marup general secretary Laishram Mema said that the arrest of the three leaders of the Pambei-led UNLF was an act of authoritarianism.

"It is not something which can be tolerated in a democracy and we strongly condemn the arrest", Mema said.

Decrying the double-standard adopted by the Government of India with respect to Kuki militants and Pambei-led UNLF cadres, she alleged that the Government has been doing nothing against the Kuki militants who have been conspiring to disintegrate Manipur and slaughtering Meitei people.

On the other hand, the Government of India has been arresting cadres of the Pambei-led UNLF who have been protecting Meitei civilians.

She said that Manipuri women would take recourse to strong protest movements if the arrested leaders/cadres of the outfit are not released at the earliest.

Representatives of Universal Mothers Organisation, Manipur Women Federation, Indigenous People's Organisation, World Meetei Organisation and Yelhoumi Kanba Lup were also present at the press meet.

A number of women also stormed Kakching police station over the arrest of three cadres and asked the police to arrest them too.

At Kakching Keithel, a large number of women including traders staged a protest against the arrest of the trio.

Speaking to the media, Kakching Apunba Nupi Lup president M Memcha said that arresting cadres of Pambei led UNLF who have been protecting the Meetei villages is unacceptable to them.

She said that they will launch a series of agitation if all three of them are not released unconditionally.

A similar protest was also taken out at Kakching Lamkhai, during which the protesters asked the Government to spell out why cadres of the outfit who agreed to hold talks with the Government were arrested.

She cautioned that a civil war may erupt if the Government started arresting those who defend Meetei villages.

Hundreds of women also staged a protest by sitting in the middle of the road across Yairipok Keithel traffic island while the Asian Highway was blocked at Wangjing Heirok Lamkhai by a group of protesters.