FOCS flays excesses against women protestors
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, May 25 2025: While strongly condemning excessive use of force by Rapid Action Force (RAF) and other central forces against women protestors on Sunday, leaving several women injured, Federation of Civil Society Organisations (FOCS), Manipur warned that excessive actions of security forces in suppressing public movement may aggravate the situation arising out of the Gwaltabi incident.

In a statement FOCS termed as unwarranted and provocative insistence by the Mahar Regiment for concealing 'Manipur' from the MST bus which was transporting a media team to Ukhrul district.

Describing the people's movement against the arbitrary action of the central security force as legitimate protest against erroneous and mala-fide conduct of the Mahar Regiment, FOCS pointed out that irrespective of popular government or President's Rule regime, womenfolk of Manipur continue to fight against erroneous government policies including the challenge to Manipur's integrity, threat to demography of indigenous peoples and securing basic democratic rights.

Women of the state are also shouldering enormous responsibility in bringing the society to the right path and several women were injured in excessive actions of security forces while shouldering their responsibility on Sunday, the FOCS statement said and termed Sunday's incident as act of cowardice by the present President's Rule regime.

FOCS further warned that it would be a gross mistake if the PR regime decides to suppress democratic movement of the people on Gwaltabi incident.

The present issue could only be resolved when the Governor initiates action against security forces and officials involved in the incident, the FOCS said and suggested government to stop using power to suppress democratic movement.

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