Thousands Gather in Imphal to Urge an End to Crisis and Protect Indigenous Communities (Manipur)
Imphal (Manipur), 29 July (City Times) : Braving the scorching summer heat, thousands of people participated in a massive peace rally on Saturday, organized by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI). The rally aimed to demand action against the Kuki Chin terrorists responsible for the ongoing crisis in Manipur.
The rally, which commenced from Thangmeiband, culminated at Hapta Kangjeibung, with participants from various communities, including Naga tribes, Muslims, and Meiteis, chanting slogans such as “Long Live Manipur,” “Put an End to Unauthorized Infiltration,” “Enforce NRC Implementation,” “Unite Under One Administration in Manipur,” “Preserve and Uphold Indigenous Communities,” “Safeguard the Richness of Our Forests and Environment,” and “Combat Crimes Targeting Women.”
The massive turnout caused some delays as participants from across the state gathered at the venue. Afterward, the rallyists passed five resolutions to address the pressing issues in Manipur.
One of the main resolutions was to quell the conflict by taking decisive action against the Chin Kuki narco terrorists who have infiltrated from other countries. The participants also opposed the idea of a separate administration in Manpur.
Furthermore, the rallyists resolved to advocate for the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manpur and demanded the summoning of the Manpur Assembly by August 5.
A memorandum is also set to be submitted to the Prime Minister, highlighting that the crisis in Manipur was triggered by illegal immigrants.
Yumnamcha Dilipkumar, a presidium member, expressed his disappointment with the Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who visited Manipur and promised to return but failed to do so. Dilipkumar also criticized the deployment of over 40,000 troops, claiming that they were not utilized to protect the people of Manipur adequately.
He highlighted a particular incident on May 3 in Churachandpur district, where crimes against women and children of a specific community took place, leading to protests and outrage across the valley areas on May 4. Dilipkumar questioned the government’s response, stating that a meager compensation of Rs 1000 provided to displaced individuals was insufficient for those who lost their homes and livelihoods.
RK Nimai, another presidium member, spoke about how the Meitei community was embroiled in the conflict due to attacks by Kuki people, leading the peace-loving Meiteis to defend themselves. Nimai urged the public to take action against armed Kuki militants instead of unarmed civilians.
The “mass rally against Chin Kuki Terrorism” was a collaborative effort by various civil societies in Manipur, coordinated by COCOMI. Given the anticipated turnout of several lakhs of people, massive security arrangements were in place to ensure a peaceful and impactful demonstration.