Women groups oppose crackdown on VVs
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, February 27 2025: Poirei Leimarol Meira Paibi Apunba Manipur general secretary Thongam Apabi Leima has said that the third Nupi Lal will break out if the administration uses force and arrest village volunteers instead of acknowledging collective voice of the people against arrest of village volunteers.

Addressing media persons at Khoyathong community hall Wednesday, Apabi said the Government of India intentionally waged a proxy war as part of the divide and rule policy to uproot Meetei community using armed Kukis since May 3, 2023 .

As Indian security forces and state forces were inert and failed to protect lives of the people since the very beginning of the conflict, lives of hundreds of people were lost and innumerable properties destroyed.

Women groups oppose crackdown on VVs

Opposing Government of India's one-sided policy and thought, many youths of the soil took up arms and are still protecting lives and properties of the people at fringe villages.

Had they not volunteered to protect the fringe villages, Meetei community would have already been wiped out, she said.

According to Apabi Leima, people are well aware of the government of India dictating terms on elected representatives of Manipur, while Indian security forces are siding with one of the warring communities and allowing them to kill young and old innocent civilians.

Nevertheless, mothers of Manipur will continue to stand against Government of India's nefarious agenda, she said, while stating that targeting of village volunteers will be considered as challenging the entire people of Manipur.

Joining the media briefing, Poirei Leimarol president Soraisam Memcha said that Manipur would have been extinct if village volunteers did come out amidst Government of India orchestrating violence to erase Manipur.

Now that the Government of India is unable to erase Manipur, different tactics are being employed with the most glaring example being imposition of President's Rule after dismissing the popular government.

On the other hand, Indian security forces are working in collusion with one community but taking stringent action against another, she said and stressed the need for all the indigenous communities to work collectively to end the present chaotic situation for restoring peace and normalcy.

According to Memcha, Government of India will never work to bring the chaotic situation in Manipur to an end and as such people of the land must understand that the Indian forces being deployed in Manipur not to resolve the conflict.

All Manipur Women's Voluntary Association president Y Kunjarani, who also attended the press conference, contended that people of Manipur are suffering as government forces of both the Centre and the state were unable to contain the violence in the initial stage.

Accordingly, village volunteers came out to defend the fringe villages and protect lives and properties from attackers as government forces remained inactive since the beginning of the conflict, she reasoned.