Gang Rape: Valley witnesses widespread protest
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 11 2023: Protesting against the gang rape of a Meitei woman in Churachandpur by armed Kuki militants on the day of the Tribal Solidarity March on May 3 last, the day the violent conflict started, mass sit-in protest demonstrations were carried out by various meira paibi associations in the valley districts of the state on Friday.

Following the call of Porei Leimarol Meira Paibi Apunba Manipur and All Manipur Women's Voluntary Association (AMAWOVA) to stage mass protest agitation, large number of women meira paibis in different parts of the valley dis tricts came out at around 11 am and staged sit-in protests till 3pm along with shouting various slogans' .

Protestors used placards which read "Transfer the gang rape case to CBI", "Punish the armed Kuki militants involved in the heinous act" and "There can be no two separate administrations in Manipur" and "Government should not show selective attitude in dealing such acts of violence against women".

Porei Leimarol Meira Paibi Apunba Manipur and All Manipur Women's Voluntary Association (AMAWOVA) organised a sit-in protest at Khoyathong Andalon Keithelda along with meira paibis of the area.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines, Porei Leimarol Meira Paibi Apunba Manipur president Longjam Memchoubi said that the rape victim has courageously came out and registered a zero FIR in Bishnupur police station.

The heinous crime is highly condemned and the government should take appropriate actions to give justice to the victim.

The state and the central governments should act impartially and see beyond ethnicity in dealing with such crimes.

They should not be selective while condemning such crimes.

In Imphal West district, Nagamapal Kangjabai Apunba Meira Paibi organised sit-in protest agitation at Nagamapal Kangjabi, Singjubung Youths Organisation Club and Singjubung Meira Paibi along with Nagamapal Youth Development Organisation and Paonam Leikai Meira Paibi at Lainingthou Eshing Chaiba Laibung Mamang, Sagolband Salam Leikai Apunba Nupi Lup at Sagolband Salam Leikai, Sagolband Meino Leirak Apunba Nupi Lup at Sagolband Meino Leirak, Sagolband Moirang Leirak Akham Lampak Meira Paibi and Ibud-hou khamlangbam Meira Paibi at Sagolband Moirang Leirak, Sagolband Bijoygovinda Apunba Meira Paibi at Sagolband Bijoygovinda Mamang Leikai, Sagolband Mabudhou Mantra Leikai Apunba Meira Paibi at Sagolband Mabudhou Mantra Leikai, Semgat Sagatpa Apunba Naharol and meira paibi women at Sagolband Thangjam Leirak and Sagolband Ingudum Meira aibi at Sagolband Ingudam Leikai.

Sit in protests were also staged in Kwakeithel Akham Leikai, Thangmeiband Sinam Leikai, Kwakeithel bazar, Keishamthong Thokchom Leikai, Sega Road Thouda Bhabok Leikai, Sagolband Lairenjam Leikai, Pukhrambam Leirak, Tera Bazar, Sagolband Lukram Leirak Machin, Takyel Lampak community hall, Tera Loukham Leirak community Hall, Tera Khamnam Bazar, Sagolband Moiranghanuba community hall, Takyel Kolom Leikai community hall, Sagolband Sadokpam Leikai community hall, Sagolband Langjing community hall, Patsoi part IV, Khumbong keitheld, Maklang bazar.

Along Uripok area women meorapaibi staged protest agitations at Singjamei supermarket are and other localities of SIngjamei, Uripok khwairak Selungba Leirak, Uripok Chakrikom, Uripok Tourangbam Leikai, Uripok Haobam Dewan Mayai Leikai, Uripok Khaidem Leikai, Uripok Yambem Leikai, Uripok Bachaspati Maning Leikai, Uripok Khumanthem Leikai, Uripok Gopalji Leirak, Uripok Khoisnam Leikai, Uripok Achom Leikai Lane 2, Naoremthong bazar Bazar, Naoremthong Laishram Leirak Machin, Takyel Khongbal Naoremthong khumanthem Leikai, Takyel khongbal Maning Leikai, Naoremthong Khulem Leikai, Samusang, Uripok Lamboikhongnagkhong, Iroisemba Manghiden and Iroisemba Chingjin.

In Imphal East, sit in protest were organised at Andro bazar, Huikap, Yairipok Santa Bazar, Keirao Wangkhem, Irilbung bazar, Bamol Kampu, Kongba Khsetri Leikai, Kongpal, Senjam Khunnou, Singjamei Khongnang Pheidekpi, Langol, Kangla Sangomsang, Khurai Ningthoubung Leikai, Kongba bazar, Khurai Tinsid Road, Napet Palli, Tejpur, Pourabi, Top Moirangkampu, Khurai Sajor Thoidingjam Leikai.

Strongly denouncing the alleged gang rape of a woman in Churachandpur on May 3 by Kuki militants, several organisations and meira paibis staged sit-in protest in different areas of the valley demanding punishment of the culprits and handing over the case to CBI on Friday.

Several organisations, clubs and meira paibis including Ching Tam Nupi Apunba Lup (China Lup) Pallel, Apunba Meira Paibi Pallel, Salungpham Meira Lup, AMAWOVA Salungpham, UCO Salungpham, Langmeithet Meira Paibi Lup, Langmeithet Protection Committee, AMAWOVA Langmeithet Unit, Khunnai Kanba Apunba Meira Paibi Lup (KHUKAMPAL), Thoubal Municipal Council ward no.l and 2 meira paibis, All Wangjing Lamding Kairembikhok Committee (AWALAKACO), Waithou Apunba Meira Paibi Lup, Thoubal Kshetri Leikai Apunba Meira Paibi Lup, Social Economic and Development Organisation (SEDO) Yairipok Keithel, All Yairipok Apunba Ima Lup, Meira Paibi Lups of Yairipok area, Youth Progressive Club, Apunba Meira Paibi Lup, Yairipok Huidrom Leikai, Charangpat Mayai Leikai Meira Paibi Lup, Rural Development Association, Thoubal Sabaltongba Awang Leikai and Meira Paibi, United Protection Committee, Sabal Leikai Apunba Nupi Lup Nambol, Nambol Maibam Chingning Awang Leikai Apunba Meira Paibi Lup, Lumlangdong (Bishnupur) Apunba Nupi Lup, Nachou Apunba Meira Paibi Lup, Apunba Meira Paibi Lup Bishnupur district, Nachou Youth Defense Force, Moirang Apunba Meira Paibi Ima Lup, Moirang Lamkhai, Kha Potshangbam Meira Paibi Lup, Kha Potshangbam community hall,Toupokpi Aunba Meira Paibi Lup and Ningthoukhong Apunba Meira Paibi Lup, Itam Nungoi Women's Development Association, Kangabam Leikai Apunba Nupi Marup and Kangabam Leikai Apunba Nupi Marup staged protest in different parts of the valley.

The protests were held at Salungpham Mamang Panthoibi Bazar, Langmeithet Community hall, Thoubal Wangmataba Devi Mandop, Wangjing Keithel, Waithou Keithel, Kshetri leikai community hall, SEDO community hall, Yairipok Huidrom Leikai waiting shed, Charangpat Mayai Leikai community hall, Thoubal Sabaltongba Awang Leikai community hall, Yairipok Angtha Khongnangkhong, Nambol.

Bazar, Sabal Leikai Community Hall, Maibam Lotpa Ching, Bishnupur Forest Gate, Nachou Parking, Soubol Lairembi Mamang, Ningthoukhong Bazar and Itam Nungoi Lamkhai.

The protestors used pla cards and shouted slogans like 'Hand over Meitei woman gang rape case to CBI, 'Punish the rapists, 'No to separate administration', 'Stop crime against women', etc.

Speaking on the sidelines of the protest, a woman protestor vehemently denounced the alleged gang rape of a Meetei woman on May 3 by Kuki militants and further demanded stringent punishment of the rapists.

Though PM Narendra Modi, HM Amit Shah and CM N Biren declared that the culprits involved in the parading naked two women in a video which went viral bn social media would be punished, the silence of Modi, Amit Shah and N Biren regarding the present case is condemnable, she said.

Demanding to handover the case of alleged gang rape of a Meitei woman on May 3, she called for doing justice equally.

Similar protests were also held at Uripok Khwairak Selungba Leirak community hall, Top Khongnangkhong Maning Leikai community hall, in front of Leishangkhong Kabui Anganwadi Centre, Mongshangei near Trinity public School, Mongshangei Lai Leirak Machin, Mongshangei Awang Leikai, Ningthemcha Karong, Haobam Marak Kha Imphal community hall, old Heirangoithong, Pishum, Khagempalli Panthak, Khagempalli Pankha, Keishamthong Elangbam Leikai Leirak Achouba Machin and Keishamthong Elangbam Leikai Leirak Macha.

Similar protests were also held at Keishampat Thiyam Leikai Machin, Keishampat Lairembi community hall, Kwakeithel Akham Leikai, KALYC community hall, Singjamei Makha Khongnang Pheidekpi Pooja ground and Singjamei Makha Khongnang Pheidekpi Emoinu ground by Meira Paibi Lups of the respective locality.

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