Action against molesters demanded
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 03 2013: A sit-in-protest staged today at Khurai Lamlong Keithel has strongly condemned incidents of molestations at Chandel and Napetpalli and demanded stringentpunitiveactionagainst the accused persons.

The protest demonstration organised as a part of the ongoing movement by Film Forum Manipur, Manipur State Shumang Leela Council, All Manipur Matam Eshei Kanglup and other civil society organisations in the aftermath of the December 18 incident at Chandel district during a musical concert, also voiced strong resentment over the Napet Palli incident in which three individuals molested a young girl hailing from Risophung village under Ukhrul district.

While the Chandel incident of molesting and assaulting a Manipuri film actress and opening fire at two other male artistes involved a top cadre of the NSCN (IM), police have taken into custody three persons from Napet village, including a former KCP activist, in connection with the molestation of the Risophung girl.

Speaking at the protest venue, Leela Council general secretary Hemanta stated that today's protest demonstration participated by women vendors of Lamlong Keithel is the beginning of a series of agitation to be undertaken by women traders at different market places of the State in denunciation of the twin incidents.

Conceding that the artiste fraternity are in favour of staging peaceful demonstrations to highlight their plight rather than impose bandh or strike that would cripple normal activities, the general secretary, however, cautioned that the agitation might be intensified in case the Chandel incident accused SS Lt Col Livingstone Anal of the NSCN could not be apprehended and punished according to law for his criminal acts.

Committee on Human Rights (COHR) Manipur chairman Phulindro Konsam in his address criticised both the State and Central Governments for failure to rein-in NSCN (IM) cadres from committing various crimes in Manipur even though the ceasefire agreement between the Naga rebel group and the Centre do not cover Manipur.

He also strongly condemned the Napet Palli incident and demanded that culprits in both the molestation cases be punished in a befitting manner.

AMUCO secretary Sanjoy while accusing the State and Central Government of being soft towards the NSCN (IM) asserted that all the designated camps of the rebel group in Manipur should be dismantled without further delay.

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