Protest against killing, arrest of VVs intensifies
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, December 22 2024: Protest against the killing and arrest of village volunteers by security forces intensified with different civil society organisations and Meira Paibi groups staging sit-in-protests at different parts of the state.

While Kwakeithel Apunba Meira Paibi Lup in coordination with Anti-Narcotics Drugs Organisation Kangleipak (ANDOK) staged sit-in at Kwakeithel Leimakhujam Leikai community hall on Sunday against the killing and arrest of village volunteers, Ghari Makha Women Development Association and Youth Welfare Association, Ghari staged similar protest under the aegis of COCOMI .

Slogans like 'We condemn killing of village volunteers', 'Punish police commandos who killed village volunteers', 'Police commandos need not show courage to the Meeteis, show courage to Narco-Terrorists', 'Release ar rested village volunteer immediately' and 'Repeal AFSPA immediately' were chan ted by the protestors during the protest.

AMKIL president Lourembam Nganbi, who joined the protest at Kwakeithel, said that Meeteis did not start the ongoing war since May 3, 2023 but it was Chin-Kuki refugees along with Kuki militants under Suspension of Operation (SoO) with the Government of India.

When the war started, both the state and central forces did not act against the aggressors but remained as silent spectators citing absence of order from the higher-ups.

Accordingly, as Meeteis were compelled to defend their lives and properties from the attackers, village volunteers emerged amidst the challenging situation, she said while clarifying that Meeteis did not waged war against anybody.

When the nude parade of two Kuki women went viral on social media, Meetei men were portrayed as demons in front of the global people with even Prime Minister Modi expressing condemnation.

However, the Government of India played deaf and dumb when Chin-Kuki terrorists torched Meetei houses and killed innocent Meetei villagers.

Both PM Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah had not uttered a word when six women and children were taken hostage in Jiribam and killed mercilessly after outraging their modesty.

The silent attitude of the Government of India even after such heinous crimes not only indicates it tacit support to Chin-Kukis but also exposes proxy war in Manipur, she alleged and reminded the Government of India that loss of Manipur's territory is India's loss of land.

Similar protest was also held at Wahengbam Leikai organised by Wahengbam Leikai Lairembi Development Meira Paibi Association.

COCOMI Women Wing coordinator Y Leirik Leima, who took part at the protest, said that state forces might have suffered a lot of casualties in the ongoing conflict since May, 2023 if there were no village volunteers.

Lives of many people were saved by village volunteers during the initial phase of the conflict when state force watched helplessly.

However, police starting to target village volunteers is unacceptable to mothers of Manipur, she affirmed and demanded immediate release of the arrested village volunteers without any condition.

She warned that mothers of Manipur will launch intense forms of agitation if the arrested village volunteers are not released by Monday.

In Thoubal district, a sit-in was staged at Charangpat Mamang Leikai on Sunday condemning the Salungpham incident in which a village volunteer was killed and six others were arrested by Manipur Police commando.

During the protest organised by KSA in collaboration with Charangpat Mamang Leikai Meira Paibi and club, the agitators displayed placards decrying arrest and killing of VVs', demanded repeal of AFSPA and release of the arrested Ws without any condition.

Comment