Thoubal protests 'nefarious' acts of central forces
Source: Chronicle News Service
Thoubal, May 29 2023:
Large numbers of people came out to the streets across Thoubal district on Mon-day in protest against alleged nefarious acts of Indian Army and central paramilitary forces deployed in the state with the objective to contain outbreak of fresh violence.
The protestors also demand-ed removal of Indian Army and paramilitary forces from the district while insisting that state forces are competent enough to maintain law and order in the district.
As part of the protest, wom-enfolk and youth blocked the roads at Yairipok Keithel, Yairipok Bishnunaha, Siphai Leikai, Yairipok Laimanai, Top Chingtha and Yairipok Bamon Leikai to prevent movement of Indian Army and central para-military forces.
Protestors at Charangpat to Nepra Company even dug out the road using JCB excavator to block transporta-tion of central forces while the road at Arong Thong along the Asian Highway and Athokpam Keithel too were blocked using large logs to disrupt movement of central forces.
A woman protestor named Mema Devi told media persons at Yairipok Keithel that Indian Army and paramilitary forces are unable to protect lives and properties of innocent people though deployed to contain vi-olence in the state.
She alleged that Indian Army and central forces are targeting only the Meetei people even as Kuki mil-itants are killing and torching Meetei villages.
She demanded deployment of state's forces to uproot Kuki militants, who are creating terror to innocent civilians in the peripheral areas of Manipur valley since May 3.Large numbers of people also blocked Yairipok-Nongpok Sekmai road at Pechi Chin-glak using water pipe and logs.
Similar protests were also held at Ukhongshang, Bengi and Lourembam to prevent move-ment of central forces.
A woman protestor at Yar-ipok Pechi told media persons that Indian Army and central paramilitary forces were sent to the state to protect people but they are covertly aiding the Kuki militants to target innocent Meetei people.
This is well known to both the gov-ernments of India and Manipur but they are remaining silent, the woman said and demanded immediate withdrawal Suspen-sion of Operation signed with Kuki militants to bring peace and normalcy in the state.
Road block protests were also held Thoubal proper where large numbers of women and youth shouted slogans against deployment of central forc-es.
The protestors at Thoubal stopped central paramilitary forces and made them turn back.
The protestors then sub-mitted a memorandum to DC Thoubal demanding removal of central forces from the district and deployment of state force.
A copy of the memorandum was also submitted to local MLA 0 lbobi Singh.
Similar protests were also held at Athokpam, Wangbal, Salungpham and oth-er areas of the district.
Expressing doubt over at-titude and conduct of central paramilitary forces deployed to contain the restive situation in the state, womenfolk also carried out agitation in front of Waikhom Mani Girls College, Thoubal along the NH 102 on Monday urging authorities con-cerned not to deploy additional central forces in the district.
Later, Thoubal district-based organisations submitted mem-orandum to the Thoubal deputy commissioner urging not to entertain deployment of ad-ditional central forces in the district.
Speaking to the media, one Okram Manorama contended that precautionary measures initiated by the district police and administration is satis-factory and as such there is no need for bringing in additional central forces.
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