Malem's peace ride cut short, activist says Government selective in ensuring safety

Our Correspondent
THOUBAL, Mar 16: As Malem Thongam's peace ride to Churachandpur was forcibly cut short by the police at Chandel today, the transgender social activist has lashed out at the  Government for selectively allowing free movement and ensuring safety and security to certain sections only.
While the Government has guaranteed the safety and security of people belonging to the Kuki-Zo community in Imphal, it has failed to provide the same guarantees to the Meiteis, Malem said.
On day 5 of her solo ride for peace today, Malem had reached Chandel District Headquarters, where she was welcomed by members of different communities at Japhou Bazar.
While her campaign for peace was on in the district HQs, Chandel police issued strong instructions to Malem to stop all activities.
The police team led by the Officer-in-Charge of Chandel refused to let Malem travel to Churachandpur from the district and asked her to leave the district within 24 hours.
Notably, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) had earlier issued a statement objecting to Malem's campaign for peace.
Asked to leave Chandel, Malem was forced to cut short her campaign and return to Pallel, and then to Babu Bazar at Thoubal.
At Babu Bazar, she was received by womenfolk including members of the Meitei Community Joint Co-ordinating Committee (MCJCC).
Malem thanked the gathering at Thoubal, and said her solo bicycle ride was aimed at fostering peace and coexistence of all communities.
Malem said her goal was to bring messages of peace to 16 districts of Manipur.
She had launched the campaign from Bishnupur on March 12.
Malem said she was warmly received by the people at Chandel Japhou Bazar, but the police didn't allow her to continue the campaign.
Such obstructions to the peace campaign is very unfortunate, she said.
The Government has guaranteed the safety and security of people belonging to the Kuki-Zo community in Imphal, but it has failed to provide the same guarantees to the Meiteis, Malem said.
People of Kuki-Zo community are able to travel to Imphal. But, the Government has not allowed Meiteis to travel to Churachandpur and failed to ensure their safety, she added.
Stressing that she is determined to travel to Churachandpur tomorrow (March 17), Malem said the Government should clarify its stand by 9 am tomorrow.
If the State Government fails to state its stand, Malem said she will launch an agitation in front of the CM's Bungalow starting 11 am tomorrow.