Women hold rally against AFSPA, Jiribam massacre
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 25 2024: A large number of women took out a protest march on Monday in Imphal East against the re-imposition of the Armed Forces' Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in areas under six police stations.

The rally was jointly organised by Nupi Khunnai (Yairipok), All Andro Meira Paibi Association, KHANAMPAL (Bamon Kampu), NONGLAMPAL (Khurai), PALEM (Lamlai), ANOMPAL (Sagolmang), KHEMPAL (Kshetrigao), MSF Imphal East District Committee, Imphal East District United Clubs' Organisation and AMAWOVA, Imphal East, among others, under the aegis of All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO) .

The protesters carried placards inscribed with slogans demanding repeal of AFSPA from the state, exemplary punishment of those involved in the killing of women and children in Jiribam, condemnation of India's alleged divide and rule policy, and safeguard of territorial integrity of Manipur.

The rally which began from the Oriental Labour Association (OLA) ground, Kongba Thongkhong, Imphal East, marched till the Palace Gate traffic island via the Wangkhei Road, and returned to the starting point.

Speaking on the sidelines, Poirei Leimarol Meira Paibi Association president Asem Ibetombi Devi, expressed concern over the ongoing crisis in the state, affecting the people, especially women and children.

She said that the people of the state are living like refugees in their own homeland.

The central government has not taken any notable measures to resolve the crisis but opted for silence in-spite of being fully aware about abduction and killing of children and women, she said while condemning the re-imposition of AFSPA.

She also demanded the removal of the law and immediate arrest of those responsible for the killing of three women and three children.

The march was taken out despite prohibitory orders imposed by the government.

The rally was stopped after 3 km by a huge contingent of security forces at Konung Mamang, just one kilometre away from the Chief Minister's Secretariat.

The demonstrators later returned to Kongba for a public meeting.

Babina Maibam, a Meira Paibi told reporters, "We are demonstrating against the continued suppression of indigenous people...

We cannot return to those injustices and brutalities of the past.

There are fake encounter cases pending in the Supreme Court.

The recent re-imposition of AFSPA in areas under six police stations shows that the Centre only wants to amplify the sufferings of the people" .

The AFSPA gives armed forces operating in disturbed areas sweeping powers to search, arrest and open fire if they deem it necessary for the "maintenance of public order" .

The Centre has recently re-imposed the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in Manipur's six police station areas, including the violence-hit Jiribam.

In a notification, the Union Home Ministry said the decision was taken given the continuous volatile situation there due to the ongoing ethnic violence.

The police station areas where AFSPA has been re-imposed are Sekmai and Lamsang in Imphal West, Lamlai in Imphal East, Jiribam in Jiribam district, Leimakhong in Kangpokpi and Moirang in Bishnupur district.

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