COCOMI launches indefinite protest in Khwairamband
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 16 2024: After a day-long protest against the killing of six civilians in Jiribam by Kuki militants, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity, along with different organisations, launched an indefinite sit-in protest at Khwairamband Keithel in the heart of Imphal city from Saturday evening.

Regarding the protest, COCOMI spokesperson Khuraijam Athouba told media persons that volunteers of the committee, along with women vendors of the three Khwairamband Keithels, decided to immediately launch the indefinite sit-in protest against the inept handling of the crisis by the state and Central governments.

COCOMI launches indefinite protest in Khwairamband

During the course of the protest, the Government of India must take a firm step within 24 hours to begin a military crackdown against Kuki terrorist groups, including those under SoO, involved in aggression against Manipur.

If the Government of India fails to launch a military crackdown against Kuki terrorists within 24 hours, the people of Manipur will prepare to launch intense forms of agitation against the Union government, including the immediate closure of all central government offices in the state, barring academic and health sectors, he said, adding that those closed central government offices will not be given a chance to reopen While asserting that the time for MLAs who have remained mute for more than 18 months had lapsed and that the people's tolerance limit had been crossed, Athouba said all the MLAs should prepare to confront the Union government by taking a collective decision.

Any action the MLAs take must be announced publicly, he demanded.

COCOMI launches indefinite protest in Khwairamband

Apart from strongly condemning the re-imposition of AFSPA in six police stations of five districts, Athouba said the Government of India encouraged Kuki terrorists to attack Meetei villages freely and, at the same time, demoralised Meetei volunteers defending their villages by re-imposing AFSPA in the six police stations.

He demanded that both the Central and state governments must decide to withdraw AFSPA from the six police stations, or else the people of Manipur will consider that the Central government has waged war in Manipur and will accordingly launch intense agitation.

Earlier in the morning, women vendors of all three Khwairamband Keithels erupted in protest after receiving news of the recovery of three out of six civilians abducted by Kuki militants on November 11 in Jiribam.

A large number of people also joined the protest by the women vendors and took out a massive rally along BT Road, shouting different slogans like 'Women and children becoming targets of Kuki terrorists', 'Victims of Proxy War', and 'Mama Macha Hatpada Modi Gi Paokhum Pami' .

When the rally started, City Police personnel tried to stop it by erecting barricades but were unable to do so.

However, the rally made a U-turn at the Congress Bhawan area.

During the protest, woman vendor Laishram Memma told media persons that although she might be old, she would take up arms to defend the motherland if required.

She added that the 10 Kuki MLAs have taken a separate decision and stand together on their own.

However, the remaining 50 MLAs should put their heads together and take a collective stand to save Manipur.