Source: The Imphal Free Press
Imphal, June 22:
A massive protest rally was taken out in Silchar today under the aegis of the All Assam Manipuri Students� Union to register strong condemnation of the gunning down of 13 protesters by CRPF personnel in Imphal on June 18 as well as opposition to extension of NSCN(IM) government of India cease-fire beyond Nagaland.
The protest rally was participated by over 2000 representatives of NGOs and voluntary organisations from three Barak Valley districts in Assam - Cachar, Hailakandi and Karimganj.
The rally participants sported black badges while the women participants were in Pungou Phanek.
The prominent bodies participated in the rally included the Manipuri Sahitya Parishad, Assam; the All Assam Meira Paibi Co-ordination Committee, the All Assam Manipuri Women Welfare Association and several other NGOs.
The rally started at 11am and traversed all major parts of Silchar.
Memorandum were sent the President, Prime Minister, Union Home Minister, governor of Manipur and chief ministers of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh through the deputy commissioner of Cachar district demanding immediate review of the cease-fire agreement stating that it would lead to disintegration of the North Eastern territories.
The protest rally was followed by a public meeting at Ithkola where several prominent personalities spoke about the possible consequences of cease fire extension.
Participants of the meeting observed one-minute silence to mourn the loss of 13 young lives in Imphal on Monday and offered salute to the 13 �martyrs�.
The meeting resolved that the AAMSU would resort to extreme forms of agitations until the Central government pulls out of the agreement to extend the cease-fire coverage beyond Nagaland.
Another mass protest rally was also taken out at Lakhipur district committee in protest against the gunning down of 13 persons in Imphal on Monday and Central Government�s decision to extend the cease-fire with NSCN(IM) beyond Nagaland.