Khurai groups denounce informer tag to KMA secretary
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 24 2023: Dismissing the Kuki informer tag labelled against its secretary Sorokhaibam Geeta, who went to help violence affected people in Urangpat area on Saturday, Khurai Mothers' Association (KMA), Khurai Unsid Road has warned of taking legal actions if Sabungkhok Meira Paibi do not apologise for the incident.

Addressing a press meet at Manipur Press Club here on Saturday, KMA member Ngangom Ibemcha said that some members of KMA led by Geeta went to Urangpat on Friday after request for help from violence affected people.

Unfortunately, a large mob in Sabungkhok area including Meira Paibi intercepted and assaulted them while branding them as informers of Kuki.

While stating that even if there were suspicion, the Sabungkhok womenfolk could have contact KMA to sort the same in a decent manner, Ibemcha said that Sabungkhok Meira Paibi should take responsibility for the vandalism and destruction caused to Geeta's house and properties of MLA L Susindro, who rescued Geeta from the mob.

Geeta, also present at the media briefing, said she along with some KMA members went to Urangpat to extend help as there was fresh violence in the area.

A Meira Paibi leader, who runs a shop at Khurai Lamlong Keithel was also part of tne team.

However, as they were being stopped by army at the entrance to Chadong village, some of the locals had a heated argument with the shop owner which she tried to intervene only to be assaulted by the mob.

Some persons took her inside a nearby hall but another group of mob barged in and continued assaulting her while alleging her to be an informer of Kuki.

She might not have escaped the mob had MLA Susindro not came and rescued her, she said.

Geeta pointed out why a woman from Meetei community would become an informer of Kuki in this situation, and appealed to all to refrain from any mob violence centred on rumours or on mere suspicion.

On the other hand, Sabungkhok Village Authority executive member Waik-hom Chaoba, while addressing a press meet, said that the incident involved a huge mob from different parts of the state.

Sabungkhok Village Authority and local Meira Paibi found the women in the local community hall and they tried but failed to control the mob.

Sabungkhok residents were not part of the mob but they tried to control the mob.

Luckily, MLA Susindro and additional SP Imphal West rescued the women, he said.

Chaoba also said that the village authority and Meira Paibi Lup share the sentiment and pain of minister Susindro and Geeta for their loss of properties by another mob.

Strongly condemning the assault of two women by branding them as informers of Kuki in Sabungkhok area on Friday, Khurai Lamlong Apunba Meira Paibi Lup also demanded an apology from their Sabungkhok counterparts while cautioning that the Lup will not support any Meira Paibi organisations pertaining to the present crisis in case of failure to tender apology.

Decrying the incident, Lup carried out a protest by blocking road at Khurai Lamlong on Saturday and demanded apology from Sabungkhok Meira Paibi, proper investigation into the incident and appealed to refrain from mob justice among the Meeteis.

Lairikyengbam Kananbala, one of the Meira Paibi members, demanded Sabungkhok Meira Paibi to apologise for their act by Sunday.

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