Tamenglong follows Ukhrul with anti-Commando rally
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 02 2009: After Ukhrul, public of Tamenglong district took out a protest rally at Noney Bazar today decrying the State Government's move to deploy IRB personnel and Police Commandos in the hill districts.

Organised under the aegis of Zeliangrong Students' Union, Manipur (ZSUM), students, youths, elderly persons, village leaders and womenfolk participated in the protest rally carrying placards inscribed with slogans like 'We don't want law breakers', 'Bring peace not IRB and Commandos', 'No law and order problem in our hills', 'Hill people not with Ibobi force', 'Say no to deployment of IRB and Commandos', etc.

School children taking part in the Noney rally to protest against deployment of Cdos

Flagged off from Noney Bazar, the rallyists proceeded till the gate of 26th Assam Rifles camp covering a distance of around 2 kms before regrouping at the starting point again where a public meeting was held.

Two resolutions were adopted at the meeting addressed by representatives of Longmai (Noney) Village Authorities, Noney Area Nishaband, Longmai Bazar Board, Longmai Area Authorities Council and Zeliangrong Students' Union, Manipur among others.

The first resolution said that the people of the area strongly condemn the State Government's decision to deploy IRB and Commandos in the hill districts and appealed to the Government of Manipur to repeal the decision immediately while the second resolution endorsed to support any form of agitations launched by the hill people against the Cabinet decision.

Talking to The Sangai Express, Kachmchui, a student of class X in Tent Maker Academy, who participated in the protest rally and the subsequent public meeting, opined that IRB personnel and Police Commandos could not be looked upon as the security personnel of the common innocent public on account of their misdeeds.

Deploying them in the hill districts may lead to killing of many innocent people as being witnessed in the valley today.

35-year old Achung Gangmei who also participated in the protest march observed IRB personnel and Police Commandos in Manipur always exercise their free will and the innocent public are being harassed unnecessarily on the pretext of counter insurgency.

During the protest rally and the public meeting, Noney Bazar remained shut.

A protest rally participated by around 5000 people was also staged at Tamenglong headquarters today, reports our correspondent.