Mass rally taken out; Guv, CM petitioned
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, July 10 2023:
Decrying the killing of Meetei village volunteer Saikhom Sobon of Uripok Naoremthong in an attack by Kuki militants, a mass rally led by Uripok Apunba Lup from Naoremthong on Monday.
The rallyists then submitted a memorandum to the Gov-ernor and the chief minister demanding removal of Assam Rifles from Manipur within 15 days.
On Monday, a mass ral-ly from Naoremthong was taken out, which was also participated by people from both sides of Uripok.
As the rally reached under the Bir Tikendrajit Flyover, it was intercepted by police.
A few representatives from among the rallyists were selected and taken to submit the 12-point memorandum to the governor and the chief minister.
The 15-point memoran-dum contained demands for removing Assam Rifles from Manipur within 15 days; removal of bunkers in hills inhabited by Kukis; relocat-ing SoO camps to interior location; formation of a 4-5 member committee consisting of MLAs/ministers to monitor the various matters; setting up a committee to identify the victims of Kuki militants including their families; set-ting up another committee for deployment of security forces in Meitei villages un-der threat of Kukis; forming core committee of 4-5 MLAs to ensure free and fair high-way protection; forming a peace initiative committee to monitor public information, rumours and other propagan-das which could hinder the peace restoration process of the state, while also ensuring close coordination with local clubs, CS0s, Meira Paibi and student unions on banning illegal substances; and forma-tion of another committee to see to the distribution of relief materials, health care, food and basic needs, free medical services for those injured by Kuki militants and dispersal of ex-gratia as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, as the Gover-nor was not present at the time, the representatives submitted the memorandum to her office, while submit-ting another copy to the CM himself.
In response, the CM in-formed that processes are underway to replace Assam Rifles with another para-military force such as BSF.
Additionally, the SoO Mon-itoring Committee have been instructed to look into mat-ters related to SoO.