Peace rally in Manipur: effigies, posters of the PM Modi, UHM Amit Shah and MLAs of Manipur burnt: Manipur police commando killed, 2 farmers injured

KalimNews, Imphal, 9 July 2023: Thousands of men and women took out a peace rally on National Highway no 2, starting from Manipur University Gate and proceeding towards Singjamei Imphal West district. 

The rally was organised by the Committee of Forward Club Thongju ( CFC) Thongju and AMPAL. Before starting the rally, the protestors burned the effigies, and throwing scandals, unwanted waste materials to the posters of Prime Minister Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and 50 MLAs of Manipur in front of the Manipur University gate. 

Speaking to the media, one of the Committee of Forward Club Thongju (CFC) Thongju  members said that if the government did not listen to the voice of the people, they would intensify the protest from tomorrow onwards.

He further said that the Manipur government and Prime minister of India is still silent. When it is clearly evident that the armed kuki militants violated the ground rule action of the SoO (Suspension of Operation) pact, questioning why the government cannot do anything like a man, they should declare to the people of Manipur their weakness. Why the Union Home Minister cannot bring peace to Manipur. Why the Union Home Minister cannot control the Chin Kuki terrorists, is there any hidden agenda? 

Till now, the public have trusted the Manipur government but they cannot go to the paddy fields as they are fired upon by Kuki chin terrorists. The protesters participating in the protest also shouted slogans demanding the Prime Minister, Union Home Minister, and fifty MLAs on their failures in the ongoing situation and demanded their resignation on moral grounds. The protesting public also asked the CSOs to keep quiet if they cannot unite and work as one in this time of crisis.  Strict security measures were taken up to avoid any unwanted incident during the rally by the Singjamei police and Imphal west police team.

In the meantime fresh firing in Manipur two innocent farmers were injured. The Kuki militants are continually attacking innocent farmers, one 45-year-old farmer sustained multiple bullet injuries on his left thigh at Langoltaobi Loukol, Phubala, Bishnupur district of Manipur. The incident happened around 8.30 am. 

Around 30 farmers were preparing their paddy fields for agricultural purposes. While another 18-year-old boy sustained injuries when Kuki militants attacked with lethode bombs in Kwakta, Bishnupur. A Manipur Police Commando was also  killed in a gunfight with Kuki  militants on Friday evening. The police commando was reportedly hit on the head during the exchange of fire.

Source said that a search operation is being conducted now following the incident by a combined team of District Police Bishnupur, BSF and Kumaon Regiment lead by Bishnupur district Superintendent Police