Women demonstrators in Imphal draw attention of Parliament to Manipur crisis

Imphal: A women mass on Monday took out rally on streets in Imphal East drawing attention of the on present Parliament session to the present crisis of Manipur that has taken lives of many and made several flee from their homes.

The demonstrators demanded to repeal Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 (AFSPA) from Manipur.

As the Parliament’s winter session commenced on Monday, thousands of women civil activists, Meira Paibis, shouted slogans against the negligence of India government to end the crisis in Manipur. They defied the curfew to draw attention to the ongoing crisis in Manipur.

Manipur has been witnessing chaos since May 3, last year, the day Kuki-Zo launched attack to Meitei villages.

The district magistrates of Imphal districts shortened curfew relaxation hours from 12 noon to 10 am. Curfew relaxation in these districts was from 5 am to 12 noon. Police in both districts announced the revised curfew hours using loudspeakers across Imphal.

The sudden curfew shortening largely impacted market runners in both the districts.

The rally was organized by various local clubs and Meira Paibi groups.

They raised slogans repeal AFSPA from the soil of Manipur, urging to stop the imposition of the ‘draconian law’. They shouted “Stop killing of women and children” in the northeastern state.

The rally began at Kongba Bazaar. It was halted by a large contingent of security forces at Konung Mamang, approximately one kilometer distance from the chief minister’s secretariat. The demonstrators u-turned to their starting point and assembled for a meeting.

A Meira Paibi leader Babina Maibam told reporters, “We are demonstrating against the continued suppression of indigenous people. The recent re-imposition of AFSPA in areas under six police stations on the valley shows that the Centre aims to suppress the voice of the people and less concerned about tackling Kuki-Zo-Hmar militants who kill women and children after taking them hostage.”

Following escalating violence the ministry of Home Affairs reimposed AFSPA in areas under six police stations effective from November 14. The Act was set to remain in force until March 2025 unless withdrawn earlier.

The demonstrators called upon the Prime Minister of India to address the worsening situation in Manipur.

In a recent emergency meeting chaired by chief minister N. Biren Singh, ruling legislators resolved to urge the Centre to withdraw AFSPA from areas under the six police stations.