Kalimpong Bar Association, All India Women Conference protest against Manipur violence

The silent march saw the participation of several individuals with no political or organisational affiliations

Participants in the silent rally organised by the Kalimpong Bar Association and the district chapter of the All India Women Conference on Monday in protest against the violence in Manipur: Telegraph picture

Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling, 25.07.23 :  Lawyers and members of a women’s organisation together held a dharna and a silent procession in Kalimpong on Monday to protest against the continuing violence in Manipur.

The dharna and the silent march organised jointly by the Kalimpong Bar Association and the district chapter of the All India Women Conference were the first instances of the protest in the Darjeeling hills against the indescribable atrocities in the northeastern state.

“We feel there are no democratic, fundamental, women or children’s rights there(in Manipur). The government must intervene to restore democracy, the rights of citizens and peace,” said Prabhakar Dewan, the president of the Kalimpong Bar Association.

The silent march saw the participation of several individuals with no political or organisational affiliations.

“Our heart cries over the inhuman acts perpetuated in Manipur. We are here to stand up not only for women but also for humanity,” said Aruna Pradhan, the president of the All India Women Conference (Kalimpong chapter).

The world has been shocked after a video of two women being paraded naked and harassed by men in Manipur emerged on social media last week although the incident had reportedly taken place on May 4.

The participants in the silent rally in Kalimpong on Monday: The Telegraph

More stories of atrocities on women in the ethnic violence in the northeastern state continue to emerge.

Kalimpong witnessed other forms of protests also on Monday against the Manipur violence.

The Congress held a demonstration at Damber Chowk.

“The silence of the government and its lack of intervention to restore normality in the region is highly deplorable,” said Phurba Tshering Bhutia, the president of the Darjeeling district youth Congress.

The Kalimpong women’s wing of the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM) held a media conference to register the protest against the crimes against humanity in Manipur.

The BGPM’s women’s wing (BGPNM) decided to holda rally from the Darjeeling railway station to Chowrasta in the town on Wednesday to condemn the Manipur violence.

“As a mark of protest against heinous crimes against women in Manipur, we have decided to hold a rally in Darjeeling on July 26. We are calling the rally ‘Gorkhas for Manipur’ but we do not want to give any political colour to the march and will invite all citizens to take part in the programme,” said Anu Chhetri Pradhan, the president of the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Nari Morcha (BGPNM).

Courtesy & source- The Telegraph