Protests staged in condemnation of Lucy Maring's killing
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 18 2023: Condemning the brutal killing of 57-year old M Lucy Maring on July 15, Restoration Manipur staged sit-in protests at three different locations under Khurai Assembly Constituency.

The sit-in protests were held at Khurai Popular High School Ground, Khurai Salanthong and Khurai Heikrumakhong and witnessed a huge turnout of protestors from the surrounding areas.

The protestors held many placards with inscriptions such as "We condemn the brutal killing of Lucy Maring", "Eradicate narco-terrorism from the soil of Manipur", "Indian Government break your silence", "Meiteis do not want war", "Central Government stop the war", "Restore peace in Manipur", "Long live Manipur", "Territorial integrity of Manipur cannot be compromised" and "Why is Prime Minister Modi still silent?" among others.

Decrying Lucy's death, Apunba Manipur Kanba Ima Lup (AMKIL) president Lourembam Nganbi stated that Manipur is made up of 35 different tribes and they have been living in peaceful co-existence for ages.

She added that the ongoing conflict has been made worse by Kuki SoO militants working in cahoots with armed Chin-Kuki people from Myanmar and inflicting acts of violence upon the people.

During the protest, Nongpok Leingak Apunba Nupi Lup president Nongthonbam Ongbi Radhamani from Khurai appealed against a repetition of such illogical acts.

Stating that people from peripheral regions are still living in miserable conditions in relief camps, she urged the Central Government to refrain from implementing their divide and rule policy among the people.

Speaking by the sideline of the protest, Sanaleibak editor Hemanta Ningombam claimed that the violence initiated by Kuki militants has been launched with the specific goal of separating from Manipur and implementing a separate administration.

Stating that the territorial integrity of Manipur has been safeguarded by the ancestors for centuries, he opined that Kukis who have settled within these territories are settlers and not indigenous to the land.

He maintained that old Kukis who have lived in Manipur for long should continue to stay here but encouraging illegal immigration of Kukis from outside Manipur and challenging the integrity of the State is not fair.

Saying that the ongoing war is an attempt by Meiteis to save themselves, he questioned how long people will continue to stage sit-in protests to uphold the territorial integrity of Manipur.

Urging people to stop this trend, he appealed everyone to make a firm resolve to save the Meitei community.

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