Peace rally held, sit - in protests attacks
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, May 30 2023:
Along with de-manding intervention of the central government to bring normalcy in the state at the earliest, Peace Com-mittee Lilong organised a public rally in and around Lilong in Thoubal district on Tuesday to reaffirm stand for emotional and integrity of Manipur.
After the rally, the Com-mittee submitted a memo-randum addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, who is currently in on a three-day visit, through the SDO Lilong demand-ing protecting of integrity of Manipur and restoring peace in the state.
Speaking to the media, Committee convenor Md Islahuddin demanded the state as well as the cen-tral government to adopt effective measures to end the crisis.
He also regretted the act of some miscreants spreading fake news lead-ing to the present restive situation and hatred among communities.
Meanwhile, as armed at-tacks along with torching of Meetei villages located in the peripheral areas of the valley continue unabated even after 27 days since the violence broke out different sections of the society are staged protest demonstra-tions in different parts of the state and demanded the government to put an end to the turmoil.
On Tuesday, Urup Arapti Development Coordinating Committee (UDACO) along with local Meira Paibi groups organised a sit-in protest at Ireima Shanglen denounc-ing the armed attacks on Meetei population by Kuki militants.
The protestors demanded termination of Suspension of Operation (S00) agreement with Kuki militants and declare them as terrorists.
Alleging Assam Rifles of assisting the Kuki militants in burning Meetei houses, the protestors said that they have lost trust on Assam Rifles and demanded their withdrawal from the state.
Appreciating the stand taken by Keirao MLA L Rameshwar, they demanded other MLAs to take similar stand.
The Meitei Pangal (Mani-puri Muslims) community also staged a sit-in demon-stration at Keirao Litan Thongkhong for protecting and safeguarding the terri-torial integrity of Manipur, on Tuesday.
The sit-in organised by Keirao, Urup and Kyamgei Peace and Reconciliation Co-ordinating Committee was attended by people of the Meitei Pangal community residing in ketrao assembly constituency The protes-tors held placards inscribed "Central government cannot disintegrate Manipur", ur", "Ter-ritorial Integrity of Manipur cannot be destroyed" and "We want Peace, not War".
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines, Committee convenor MI Khan pointed out that the ethnic violence has created serious problems not only to one community but the whole people with students the worst-hit sec-tion of the society.
The state and central governments should ensure peace as there can be no development without peace.
He further informed that the Meitei Pangal are nei-ther in favour nor against any side but there will be a time when we have to stand for and against to one as we stand for the territorial in-tegrity of Manipur.
We all need to come together to restore peace in this state where different communities have been settling in peace and harmony for centuries.
It is hoped that the union home minister as well as the union minister of state for home who are in the state will bring about an amicable solution to the prevailing issue and ensure restoration and peace, MI Khan said and A A dlIAAACU thecommitteewill continue take up steps for peace in the state.