Imphal East, Manipur: A wave of discontent swept through Imphal East district as various civil society organizations took to the streets to protest against the re-imposition of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).
The protest was fueled by the recent brutal killing of six innocent civilians in Jiribam by suspected Kuki-Zo militants.
Demonstrators voiced their deep disappointment with the Central government’s perceived indifference towards the escalating conflict between the Meitei and Kuki communities. They sharply criticized the government’s contrasting responses to the crisis, highlighting the strong condemnation of the Kuki woman’s paraded nude incident but the deafening silence on the horrific killing of Meitei civilians.
The protesters demanded swift justice for the victims of the Jiribam incident, which occurred on November 11th when Kuki militants attacked the Jakuradhor area, leading to a fierce gun battle with CRPF forces. They emphasized that the re-imposition of AFSPA would only exacerbate the situation rather than contribute to a peaceful resolution.
Chanting slogans like “Central government not to divide Manipur,” “repeal AFSPA,” “long live Manipur,” and “stop killing women and children,” the protesters underscored their commitment to preserving Manipur’s unity and integrity. They also displayed banners featuring images of victims of AFSPA, late Thangjam Manorama and Rose Ningsen, as a poignant reminder of the human cost of the draconian law.
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