Cries for justice get louder, widespread protests demand crackdown on terror

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Apr 12: Voices crying justice for the two children "murdered" in April 7 Tronglaobi bomb attack and the three killed in CRPF firing on protesters have grown only louder as widespread protest demonstrations continued across several districts today.
At a protest demonstration organised by Kwakeithel Apunba Meira Paibi Lup at Kwakeithel Bazar, All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO) president Sanjoy Sorokhaibam criticised the State Government for failing to exercise its authority and crackdown on "terrorists" even after children have been killed in heinous attacks.
He accused the Government of India of waging a "proxy war" and "disintegrating Manipur" with its "divisive policies."
He said the State Government exists only in "namesake", and has become a "puppet" of the Government of India.
People shouldn't expect the Government to save Manipur. As they have been, the people should collectively protect the State and teach the Government of India a lesson, he added.
Kwakeithel Apunba Meira Paibi  Lup's president, Soubam Sobita said the people strongly condemn the April 7 attack that killed two innocent children and the subsequent CRPF firing that killed 3 protesters and injured several others.
"Even days after the terror incidents, no action has been taken against Kuki terrorists. It is as if the State Government doesn't exist," she said.
If there is indeed a State Government, then it should understand the sentiments of the people and act decisively against the terrorists who have killed ordinary citizens and children, she said.
She further criticised a reported comment made by the State Home Minister on the deployment of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel.
"The Home Minister has reportedly said to deploy CRPF in the hills and State forces in the valley. The Government should make it clear if the hills and the valley are being administered separately," she said.
Denouncing the reported comment, she said, the Government should instead focus on strengthening the State security forces.
The protesters raised slogans and urged the Government to crackdown on "Kuki terrorists" and all forms of terrorism.
They denounced Central security forces for failing to protect civilians and their properties, and asked them to "go back".
If the Government is unable to deliver justice by punishing the Kuki terrorists who killed the two children and CRPF personnel who shot and killed protesters, then the Chief Minister should resign from his post on moral ground, the protesters said.
Khurai protest
A massive protest demonstration was also held at Khurai Lamlong Keithel today.
Hundreds of protesters, including members of AMUCO, CoHR, MSF, PLMPAM, Khurai Apunba Club and Khurai Thingom Leirak Meira Paibi Lup and several organisations, took part in the demonstration organised by the Coordinating Body Khurai.
During the protest demonstration, Coordinating Body Khurai advisor RK Leibaktombi said that the people vehemently condemn and denounce the silence of the Government of India on the Manipur crisis and the recent killing of the two children in Tronglaobi.
Even when innocent civilians including children have been killed, the Centre has remained silent, and Central security forces have not conducted any military actions against the Kuki militants, she said.
Instead of launching a crackdown on Kuki militants to curb terrorism, the Government has ignored the sentiments of the people and is apparently preparing for conducting census exercises when its citizens are suffering and being killed, she said.
If the Government thinks it can conduct the census forcibly before the conflict is resolved, then it must be ready to face "public outrage and a war" that is much stronger than the "Nupi Lan". The Government will then have to bear the responsibilities for any eventualities that may follow, she said.
Rallies were also organised at Bishnupur, Uripok, Arapti and several other places.
Bishnupur rally
Hundreds of people from more than 8 villages took out a rally from Khoijuman to Bishnupur Keithel.
The rally was organised by the Inter Village Development Committee (IVDC) Bishnupur and its women wing. Locals, largely womenfolk, from Ngakchroupokpi, Ngai-khong Khullen, Ngaikhong Siphai, Toubul, Khoijuman, Kwasiphai, Nachou and Kha Potshangbam took part in the protest.
The protesters demanded justice for the two children killed in the April 7 Tronglaobi attack and 3 killed in CRPF firing during a protest on the same day.
The protesters called on all stakeholders including civil bodies and MLAs to come together and take a strong and united resolution on the Manipur crisis.
They called on the Government to abrogate Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement and crackdown against Kuki militants.
Identifying unchecked illegal immigration as the underlying cause of the many crises facing Manipur, the protesters demanded the Government to update the National Register of Citizens (NRC) to detect and identify illegal immigrants and deport them.
Census exercise in Manipur should be conducted only after NRC is updated, the protesters asserted.
Protest demonstrations were also held in several other places across districts.
Sit-in demonstrations were held at Sagolband Tera Loukrakpam Leikai and Sayang Road Konthoujam Leikai.
Uripok Apunba Lup and Uripok Apunba Nupi Lup organised a rally from Lamboikhongnangkhong upto the flyover bridge. The rally demanded the time bound investigation of the Tronglaobi incident and justice for the two children.
The rally at Arapti was organised by the Urup Arapti Development Coordinating Committee and Urup Arapti Apunba Meira Paibi.