No peace in State until abrogation of SoO pact, says victim's brother

    26-May-2023
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Our Correspondent
BISHNUPUR, May 25: As long as the SoO agreement is not withdrawn, there will be no peace in Manipur, said Nanao, brother of Toijam Chadramani who was killed by suspected Kuki militants yesterday in a firing incident at Thamnapokpi Maning.
Nanao made the statement at a protest staged today at Moirang College relief camp against the firing incident which claimed the life of Toijam Chandramani and injured another.
Expressing anguish over the death of his elder brother,  Nanao shared that they believed their lives had been saved as they shifted from Churachandpur to Moirang relief camp, but this unfortunate incident took the life of his older brother. Calling for abrogation of the SoO pact, he alleged that Kuki militants are free to roam about and fire their weapons at will. There will be no peace in Manipur until the SoO pact is withdrawn, he said.
Expressing their dissent, the protestors held placards with messages such as "We want strong action against Kuki militants", "Scrap Suspension of Operation", "We want peace" etc.
It may be mentioned that Ngangkhalawai Chaokhat Thourang Nupi Lup also staged a sit-in protest at Ngangkhalawai yesterday against the seemingly biased attitude of Central paramilitary forces.
Speaking by the sidelines, Kh Kunjeshwori, member, Ngangkhalawai Chaokhat Thourang Nupi Lup asserted that the State Government must be held accountable for the death and injury of Toijam Chandramani and L Manosh respectively
She also decried the State Government's failure to implement any policy or programme to alleviate the suffering of the relief camp inmates even when more than 20 days have passed since violence first erupted.
Further, she called upon the Central paramilitary forces to be neutral to both sides and not adopt a biased attitude in dealing with the ongoing crisis.
It may be noted that sit-in protests were also staged in this connection at Sunusiphai, Naranseina and Thamnapokpi.