Protest staged
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 23 2025: Widespread protests were staged in Uripok today as hundreds of residents took to the streets to demand the withdrawal of President's Rule (PR) and an immediate halt to the crackdown on village volunteers.

A demand to roll out National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise in Manipur was also raised during the protest demonstrations organized by Uripok Apunba Lup (UAL) and Uripok Apunba Nupi Lup (UANL), two prominent local organizations.

Speaking to the media at one of the protest sites, UANL president Potshang-bam Joyshree said that village volunteers were forced to loot arms to defend themselves against the relentless attacks by Kuki militants and their associates.

Kuki militants have been targeting Meeteis, burning their houses and driving them out of their villages, she said and added that the village volunteers' actions were purely defensive, driven by the need to protect themselves and their communities from the brutal onslaught.

She went on to state that the inability of Central and State forces to safeguard lives and properties led to a breakdown in trust, forcing hundreds of youth to take up arms in self-defense.

Further stating that security forces failed to act against the militants, citing lack of orders to do so as an excuse, Joyshree accused the Govt of prioritizing action against village volunteers over tackling the militant threat.

She urged the Government to take up necessary steps to deport the illegal immigrants, abrogate the Suspension of Operation (SoO) pact signed with Kuki militant groups and withdraw PR.

Joyshree expressed disappointment over the Centre's handling of the Manipur crisis, stating that the Government has fulfilled the demands of the Kukis by removing N Biren Singh as Chief Minister and imposing President's Rule in the State.

This move, according to Joyshree, is a clear indication that the Government is not taking a neutral stance in addressing the crisis.

The Central leadership also didn't say a single word of condemnation against the killing of three women and three children including a toddler in Jiribam by Kuki militants, she said.

Saying that the crisis in Manipur has taken a heavy toll on the people, Joyshree urged the Government to roll out National Register of Citzens (NRC) exercise in Manipur, install a popular Government and revoke PR from the State.

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