Security forces stop FOCS's 'peace march'
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, March 08 2025: Despite union home minister Amit Shah's 'free movement' announcement, the 'peace march' of the Federation of Civil Society Organisations (FOCS), Manipur, on Saturday was stopped by a large number of security forces before reaching the boundary of Kangpokpi district.

However, FOCS and its allied organisations considered the 'peace march' a success and a defeat for the Union government, the Manipur Governor, and the law-enforcing agencies of the state.

As announced earlier, a large number of activists of FOCS and its allied organisations gathered in front of the western gate of Kangla from Saturday 8 am for the 'peace march' .

Security forces stop FOCS's 'peace march'

However, a large number of security personnel already deployed in the area prevented the 'peace march' from flagging off from the western gate of Kangla.

Nevertheless, the 'peace march' was flagged off from the FOCS office at Kabaw Leikai, near Imphal War Cemetery, at about 9:30 am by noted Manipuri filmmaker Aribam Syam Sarma.

As vehicles of the 'peace march' began to move towards Sekmai along NH-2, police stopped the rally for not taking prior permission.

As the vehicles forcibly moved towards Sekmai, several barricades stopped the rally at Mao Keithel area.

At about 10 am, the rally moved towards Sekmai, and a large number of people holding the banner 'FOCS peace rally' and peace flags welcomed the rally at Sekmai Bazar.

When the rally reached Sekmai Yaiphakol area, around 1 km from the Kangpokpi district boundary, a large number of security forces already deployed there stopped the activists for the third time and prevented them from crossing the area.

As more people gathered at the fuel pump at Sekmai Yaiphakol, already destroyed by the Kukis, an intense tussle broke out between security forces and the people, and repeated attempts for the rally to cross the area were made till 1:30 pm.

No untoward incident occurred in the area, though the tussle lasted for some hours.

Later, FOCS president Th Manihar told media persons during a press conference at its office that FOCS and its allied organisations planned the 'peace march' as per union home minister Amit Shah's announcement to ensure 'free movement' from March 8 and strict action against obstructers.

The main objective of the 'peace march' was to bring back peace and normalcy while keeping faith in steps being initiated by the Union government to restore peace and normalcy in the state.

The 'peace march' was not against any community or religion, he added.

According to Th Manihar, the Union government's double-standard nature has been exposed with the stoppage of the rally by a large number of security forces.

The 'peace march' might not have reached its destination, but it was a huge success for FOCS and its allied organisations and a defeat for the Union government, the Manipur Governor, and the law-enforcing agencies, who could not commit to their decision.

The decision of the Union government has become hollow now, he said and asked if the Centre's 'free movement' decision was taken to inflict more suffering on the people or to add fuel to the fire.

Terming it unfortunate that the Union government's decisions were non-committal and casual, Manihar said FOCS would welcome any decision of the Union government if it was sincerely taken in the interest of the people.

There is a proposal from the home ministry for holding talks with representatives of CSOs of Manipur on March 11, and FOCS also received an informal invitation to take part in the meeting.

However, FOCS has decided not to participate in the proposed meeting in view of the Union government's non-committal decision and the emerging situation after Saturday's incident, Manihar said, declaring that FOCS will never take part in any meeting until the Union government takes concrete, committed, and action-oriented decisions in the interest of the people.