Market closure, sit-in protest condemn killing
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, December 06 2023:
Markets were shut and sit-in protests staged at various places on Wednesday condemning the brutal killing of 13 Meeteis by suspected armed Kuki militants at Leithao village in Tengnoupal district on December 4.A sit-in protest against the killing was organised by Bishnupur Akoiba Apunba Lup at Bishnupur Bazar after shutting down the market on Wednesday.
Speaking to media persons on the sidelines, Lup's Women Wing assistant secretary Thongam Sundari pointed out that women are coming out on the road to protest as wellas prevent attacks by Kuki militants on Meeteis since May 3.While asserting that they will continue to launch movement without care for food or sleep, she exhorted all to come out and protect Manipur.
The agitators also chanted slogans such as 'long live Manipur, 'oust Kukis', etc.
Meanwhile, a sit-in protest was organised by Lamangdong Keithel Development Committee at Temporary Market Shed, decrying the killing.
Speaking to media persons, Committee's secretary Ch Meipaktombi Devi condoled the death of 13 people and prayed for the departed souls to rest in peace while sharing the grief of the bereaved families.
She also questioned the narrative of the state and central governments that peace has been restored in the state.
On the other hand, women vendors of Yairipok Keithel paid floral tributes to the 13 martyred Meiteis and staged a sit-in protest to condemn their killings.
Speaking to media persons, one Keisham Memcha lambasted chief minister N Biren for his repeated statements that normalcy is returning in the state, even though regular violent incidents and deaths are happening in the state.
Instead of clinging onto his chair, he must do the needful for protecting the state and his community, she stressed.
K Memcha continued that the CM should point out the place where peace has been restored and if he is incapable of restoring peace should resign from his post.
During the protest, the agitators chanted slogans and held placards inscribed with wordings like 'implement NRC in Manipur', 'remove Assam Rifles from state', 'we condemn Kuki militants action', 'CM save your land save your community', etc.
Meanwhile, Many have condemned the brutal killing of 13 Meitei individuals allegedly by Chin-Kuki militants after captive and brutal torture on December 4 at Leithao village in Tengnoupal district near the Indo-Myanmar international border.
In separate releases, Global Manipur Federation and Communist Party of India Manipur State Council conveyed deep condolences to the families affected by the tragic incident.
The victims, identified as Meitei youths, some still in their teenage years, fell victim to a massacre perpetrated by Chin-Kuki militants.
Many of them were Internally Displaced People (IDPs) residing in relief camps, and in the absence of motive or evidence as to why their lifeless bodies were re covered near Leithao village, this gruesome incident can be classified as crimes against humanity, akin to the Supreme Court of India's description of "keeping the Pot Boiling in Manipur", they condemned.
Notably, the victims were murdered after being captured and brutally tortured which raised alarming concerns of potential genocide and crimes against humanity under UN Article 3 of the Geneva Convention, they lamented, while demanding the state government to officially recognise these individuals as martyrs and called upon the authority to employ all necessary legal measures to apprehend the perpetrators responsible for this mass killing.
Condemning the silence of the chief minister regarding the death of 13 youths, they said that the CM has been misleading the people by claiming that normalcy is returning and further questioned whether the home department is only for protecting the ministers.
It is the duty of the chief minister to make the Prime Minister aware about the ground situation, they insisted and prodded the conscience of Union Home Minister Amit Shah who assured of controlling the violence in hill areas.
They implored the state government and those in the corridors of power in New Delhi to undertake confidence building measures towards ending this crisis and bringing a durable peace at the earliest.
Further pointing out that the governments are the custodian for protection of life and security of the people of Manipur, they exhorted authorities concerned to commit to protecting the public and their interests, in particular ,the desperate youths, and ensure that such incidents do not repeat in the future.
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