Many protest crackdown on village volunteers
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 09 2025: Raising strong objection against the crackdown on village volunteers and demanding a concrete initiative from the Government to enable IDPs return to their homes, protest demonstrations were staged at two locations today.

Meira Paibis expressed strong objection against arrest and attempts to arrest village volunteers at a protest demonstration jointly organised by Thongju Boroi Makhong Meira Paibi, Thongju Pheija Leitong Meira Paibi, Thongju Awang Meira Paibi ad Thongju Maibi Lampak Meira Paibi at Thongju Boroi Makhong.

Many protest crackdown on village volunteers

Speaking to media persons at the protest site, Thongju Boroi Makhong Meira Paibi president Khaidem Shantibala said that the protracted violence which started with premeditated aggression by Kuki on Meiteis on May 3, 2023 could not be resolved till date.

Even though the violence is on the verge of completing two years, the Government of India is unable to bring a solution.

It is a known fact that the Government of India has been standing on the side of the Kukis and encouraging the Kukis to attack Meiteis, Shantibala said.

While the Government failed to contain the violence and the Chief Minister was made to step down, the other legislators have shown no interest to form a new Government and protect the lives of citizens, she said.

The Meitei village volunteers came into being to protect the indigenous community and safeguard the integrity of Manipur.

But the Government of India, after imposing President's Rule in the State, has launched intensive combing operations to nab village volunteers.

This is unacceptable.

All combing operations to nab village volunteers must be stopped immediately, said the Meira Paibi leader.

If the Government goes on with the combing operations and continues to crackdown on village volunteers, Meira Paibis would be compelled to launch a strong civil movement, she said.

Heeding to the call of the Governor, almost all the weapons which were in the possession of village volunteers have been surrendered to the Government.

On the other hand, Kukis have surrendered little or no weapons.

Yet, security forces are carrying out intensive combing operations in the valley, leaving out the hill areas.

This is an open act of discrimination and partiality, she said.

Expressing grief and pain over the wretched condition of the IDPs who fled from Churachandpur, Moreh and Kangpokpi etc and living in relief camps for the past 22 months, Shantibala noted that the number of IDPs who committed suicide due to extreme suffering, agony and depression has been growing with time.

She then urged the Government to take up concrete steps immediately so that the IDPs can return to their homes.

A similar protest demonstration was also staged at Kakwa Nameirakpam Leikai, Beni Leirak Machin under the aegis of the Kakwa Makha Nameirakpam Leikai Apunba Meira Paibi Lup and local clubs.

Kakwa Makha Nameirakpam Leikai Apunba Meira Paibi Lup president Thoudam Inaomacha Leima said that both the Government of India and the State Government did nothing to protect indigenous Meiteis when Kukis who do not have a land of their own launched a campaign of genocide against the Meiteis.

The Meitei village volunteers came into being purely for self defence, she said.

Heeding to the call of the Government of India, the Meitei village volunteers have surrendered all their weapons and they are totally unarmed.

Even after the surrender of weapons, Central forces have been carrying out massive combing operations to nab village volunteers.

This is unacceptable and the combing operations must be stopped immediately, Inaomacha said.

The Central Government's initiative of disarming Meiteis while keeping the Kukis armed to the teeth is unfair and smacks of partisan attitude, she said.

She warned that Meira Paibis will launch a strong mass movement if the combing operations targeting only Meitei village volunteers are not put to an end immediately.

She also expressed strong indignation against the indifference of both the Central Government and the State Government to the misery of IDPs.

Placards which read as "India's divide and rule policy should not disintegrate Manipur", "Stop crackdown on village volunteers", "Facilitate return of IDPs to their homes", "Stop State terrorism", "Stop proxy war, stop killing innocent people" and "Stop human rights violation" were used at both the protest sites.