Mass sit-ins on Feb 21
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 17 2024:
Meitei Leima has called on the people of the valley to organise mass sit-in demonstrations on February 21 against detention and arrests of village volunteers.
At Manipur Press Club, Imphal today, Meitei Leima convenor Salam Prabhapati said the village volunteers who are keeping vigil in their own villages must not be detained or arrested.
Instead of acting against the Kuki militants who are attacking Meitei villages and civilians for a separate administration, the State and Central Government have cracked down on volunteers defending villages, she said.
The Central and State Government should focus on controlling the Kuki militants instead of taking action against volunteers who are defending villages from the militants' attacks, she added.
She urged people to organise mass sit-in demonstrations against arrests of village volunteers in their respective places on February 21 from 11 am to 3 pm.
During the protest demonstrations, people may raise slogans demanding the Government to scrap the SoO Agreement and refrain from arresting volunteers, she added.
Further, no personnel of the 5 IRB post at Chingarel and other posts in the valley should be blamed and suspended in connection with alleged looting of arms and ammunition, she said.
The present conflict since May 3, 2023 has killed over 200 people including security personnel and burnt hundreds of houses.
More than 60,000 people have been displaced and are staying at relief camps across the State.