Infamous viral video case : Locals of Yairipok urge trial of case in Manipur
Source: The Sangai Express

Thoubal, August 30 2023: Wide-scale protest demonstrations were carried out at Yairipok side today demanding the trial of seven persons arrested in connection with the infamous viral video incident of May 4 to be carried out in Manipur and not in Assam .

Local clubs, organizations and Meira Paibis of Yairipok cautioned that intense agitation will be carried out against the State Government if it fails to act in accordance with the wishes of the people.

Voicing the above demand, Nongpok Sekmai Apunba Meira Paibi and local club jointly staged a sit-in protest at Nongpok Ningthou Panthoibi Shanglen today.

Infamous viral video case : Locals of Yairipok urge trial of case in Manipur

Taking part in the protest, one of the Meira Paibi leaders expressed that the trial of the individuals arrested in connection with the viral video incident should be carried out in Manipur in a fair and just manner.

Expressing dismay over the indifference attitude of the Government on the 'gang rape incident of a Meitei woman' at Churachandpur on May 3, the Meira Paibi leader questioned why no stern actions have been taken up to book the culprits involved in such a heinous act.

Reacting strongly against the State Assembly session held yesterday, she urged the Government to convene a proper session to discuss the prevailing crisis so as to bring a resolution at the earliest.

'We yearn for peace, normalcy and peaceful co-existence', she said.

She also demanded that the withdrawal of legal notice served on Maheshwar Thounaojam by the Assam Rifles as he had been advocating sincerely for the cause of Meiteis.

Meanwhile, a protest demonstration was staged at Shikhong Keithel jointly organised by the Justice Unity Peace And Security Organization (JUPSO) Shikhong Bazar and Shikhong Bazar Meira Paibi.

Locals of Shikhong, Shikhong Khumbi and Nongpok Sekmai took part in the protest.

One of the protestors appealed to the authorities concerned to conduct the trial in Manipur as there are enough provisions in the state since the State has a High Court and other Session Courts.

Conducting the trial in another State will pose many inconveniences in terms of travel and expense to those who will be under trial, he added.

Similar protests were also carried out at Ukhongshang Keithel organised by Ukhongshang Apunba Meira Paibi Lup and local clubs; Lourembam Lamkhai organised by Lourembam Apunba Meira Paibi in association with the local clubs and at Pechi Youth Development Club (PYDC) organised by the club and Pechi Apunba Meira Paibi Lup.

The protestors strongly denounced the silence of the Government on the gang-rape case of Churachandpur on May 3 as compared to the strong reaction of the Government with regard to the viral video incident.

It is a shame that the Government has failed to take up any concrete measures to protect the indigenous Meiteis from the atrocities of Kuki militants who have been creating havoc in the State.

Placards which read 'Government should control crimes in Kuki inhabited areas', 'Withdraw Assam Rifles from Manipur', 'Resolve the crisis in the State', 'Law should be imposed equally in both hills and valley', 'No compromise on integrity of Manipur', etc were used by the protestors and similar slogans were chanted.