Rally calls for crackdown against Kuki militants

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Nov 19: A large number of people took out a protest rally today from Kwakeithel to Keishampat denouncing reimposition of AFSPA and demanding exemplary punishment for all those terrorists involved in the gruesome murder of six hostages including three minors and three women at Jiribam.
The rally was jointly organised by AMUCO, AMAWOVA, Poirei Leimarol Meira Paibi Apunba Manipur and MSF.
Soon after the rally was flagged, a strong police team blocked it at Kwakeithel Bazar.
After a brief stand off with the police, the protesters somehow overcame the police barricade and marched till Keishampat.
An even larger contingent of security forces comprising Manipur Police and RAF blocked the rally again at Keishampat junction.  
This time, the protesters could not overcome the police  and they turned around and went back to the starting point.
Throughout the course of the rally, the protesters shouted many slogans like, “Repeal AFSPA from all over Manipur”, “Book and award exemplary punishment to all those involved in the gruesome murder of three kids and three women”, “We oppose reimposition of AFSPA rather than bringing an to the crisis”, “Long Live Manipur” and “Integrity of Manipur cannot be compromised”.
AMUCO president Pheiroijam Nando Luwang who took part in the rally alleged that the Government of India’s policy to wipe out Manipur is becoming more and more pronounced.
By imposing AFSPA for decades, the Government of India has been killing the people of Manipur as and when they fancy.
In response, the people of Manipur have been waging a sustained mass movement against the draconian Act.
Demanding repeal of AFSPA, Pebam Chittaranjan        immolated himself, Nando recalled.
After sustained mass movements, AFSPA was lifted from the jurisdictions of 19 police stations but the infamous Act was recently reimposed in areas covered by six police stations, he said.
By reimposing AFSPA, the Government of India has multiplied the woes of people living in foothill and peripheral areas who are already reeling under a state of war, the AMUCO president said.
Instead of giving a special package to these people who are suffering from a state of war, the Government of India has reimposed AFSPA, he said.
Such actions of the Government of India smacks of an intention to exterminate the Meitei community, he continued.
Nando went on to ask why the large number of Central forces stationed at Jiribam did not try to stop the Kuki terrorists from taking three innocent children and three women hostages.
He further asked why the Central forces did not do anything to rescue the hostages.
It is a matter of grave concern that the Government of India too did not do anything to rescue the innocent women and children.
The claim that the State Government is being restrained by the Government of India is absurd, he said before asking the State Government to take some bold steps to tackle the protracted crisis.
The people will not remain silent to any attempt to wipe out Manipur from the surface of the earth, he asserted.
Nando then alleged that reimposition of AFSPA by the Government of India was driven by an intention to exterminate the Meitei community. A large number of people have been already killed under the impunity guaranteed by AFSPA, he said.      
As soon as the AFSPA was reimposed, Nectar Sanjenbam, a retired army officer now serving as Senior SP (Combat), Manipur Police shot dead a man at Jiribam and inflicted critical injuries to another. As such, the people have started to bear the brunt of AFSPA being reimposed, the AMUCO president stated.
The State Government must take up strong actions against Nectar Sanjenbam, he said.
It has been more than one year and a half since retired IPS officer Kuldiep Singh was appointed as Security Advisor to the Government of India but he has failed miserably to contain the violence.
As he is not serving his purpose, Kuldiep Singh must be removed from the post of Security Advisor without any further delay, Nando demanded.