Panchayat body holds protest against violence
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, June 14 2023:
Manipur State Panchayat Parishad (MSPP) organised a sit-in protest at Keis-hampat Leimajam Leikai community hall to denounce the ethnic violence in the state, which broke out from Churachandpur district on May 3 after a tribal solidarity march organised by ATSUM turned violent.
Interacting with the media at the protest venue, MSPP president Md Abdul Latif said that they are organising the protest to register their demand to the state and Central government to contain the violence and restore peace.
He demanded the government to deploy adequate security forces and contain the situation.
They will submit memorandum to the Prime Minister, union home minister, Governor, chief minister and chief secretary in this regard, he said.
He further demanded Kuki militants to stop attacking innocent villagers and burning their houses while drawing attention of the government for providing adequate compensation for rehabilitation and resettlement of the displaced people.
Waithou GP pradhan Pukhrambam Sur-bala said that it has been 41 days since the violence broke out from Churachandpur after Kuki militants used their brute power against Meetei civilians.
Nearly 100 lives have been lost and hundreds injured in the violence.
Well armed Kuki militants have been exploiting the Meetei community living in areas under their control and they initiated the violence, she said.
She also expressed resentment over alleged indifference of the authority to stop the violence and remarked that MSPP might even go to the national capital and organise protest if the government fails to contain the violence at the earliest.
Protestors were seen holding placards inscribed "Stop killing/attacking innocent people", "Stop narco-terrorism", "Withdraw SoO from Kuki militants", "No compromise to Manipur's Integrity", and "Deploy state forces in violence hit areas" among others.