Protests continue over Gwaltabi incident
Source: The Sangai Express

Bishnupur/Kakching, May 27 2025: Denouncing the removal of the word "Manipur" from a State Transport bus by Central security personnel at Gwaltabi on May 20, protests continued at various parts of the State on Tuesday.

At Tokpaching, the All Tokpaching Meira Paibi Welfare Association staged a sit-in protest today at Tokpaching bazar denouncing the the unethical actions of the Mahar Regiment personnel who instructed a group of journalists who were travelling to attend the Shirui Lily Festival were forced to conceal the word "Manipur" from the MST bus ferrying the scribes.

Speaking at the sideline of the protest, All Tokpaching Meira Paibi Welfare Association secretary Salam Dukanchaobi questioned the motive of the security personnel for forced removal of the word "Manipur" from a State Transport bus.

She called for the resignation of the Governor on moral grounds if fail to take action against those security personnel involved in the Gwaltabi incident.

During the protest, placards with inscriptions like "We condemn divide and rule policy of India Government," "The Governor must apologise to the people of Manipur," "We want peace", "Long live Manipur," etc were held and similar slogans were also raised by the protesters.

Meanwhile, Meira Paibis of Bishnupur along with CSOs, and various club organisations of the district in support to the COCOMI's movement took out a protest rally from Bishnupur Keithel to Mini Secretariat Complex, calling for resignation of the Governor, Chief Secretary, Security Advisor and DGP of Manipur and submitted a memorandum to the ADC Bishnupur, Toijam Opendro.

After submitting the memorandum to the ADC, L Devachand said that the action of the Central forces to forcibly conceal the word 'Manipur' from the State Transport bus ferrying a group of Journalist who were travelling to attend the Shirui Lily Festival on May 20 is a humiliation to the people of Manipur.

He said that the people of Manipur will not remain a mute spectator if the Government of India tries to break the territorial integrity of Manipur.

He also demanded an apology from the Governor of Manipur, Chief Secretary, Security Advisor and DGP of Manipur regarding the incident, and urged them to leave Manipur.

Comment