Police thwart rally, tense stand-off ensues

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Sep 3 : Aggrieved by the Government’s inaction against the aerial bombing carried out by Kuki terrorists which have killed and injured many people, women vendors of Khwairamband Keithel gathered for a rally to the Chief Minister’s bungalow this afternoon.
Hardly had the women vendors started their march when police arrived at the scene and prevented the womenfolk from taking out the rally.
As the womenfolk tried to make their way past the police barricade, police responded by using chili spray upon the protesters.
Undeterred by the chili spray, the womenfolk pressed on but they were blocked by a strong police force at the foot of BT Flyover near ISTV office, resulting in a tense stand-off.
The tense stand-off lasted for several hours before police managed to drive away the womenfolk.
Speaking to the media, Khwairamband Ima Keithel Joint Coordinating Committee for Peace (KIKJCCP) convenor Laishram Mema said that the women vendors were marching to the Chief Minister’s bungalow and the Raj Bhavan to know from Chief Minister N Biren if the Government has any hidden agenda behind its inaction even after Kuki terrorists have launched a deadly war by using drone-propelled bombs.
“We came back after we were told that a Cabinet meeting was going on. We will continue our agitation after knowing what decisions have been adopted at the  Cabinet meeting”, she said.
Mema said that all the Central security forces must be withdrawn from Manipur for they cannot do anything in the face of the drone-bombing carried out by Kuki terrorists. State security personnel too should resign if they are not in position to defend Manipur from the Kuki offensive, she said.
The drone-propelled bomb attacks came within three days after many village volunteers were arrested and others were driven out from Koutruk.
The village volunteers were driven out saying that there were Central and State security personnel to protect the village, Mema said before asking what the Central and State security personnel did when Koutruk was subjected to merciless bombing by Kuki terrorists.
Asserting that the people will protect Manipur, she asked all the Ministers and MLAs to step down.
KIKJCCP co-convenor Y Ibeyaima too questioned the silence of the Governor. She pointed out that  even Khwairamband Keithel can be bombed from drones any time. She further asked whether the 50 MLAs should not exert strong pressure on the Government of India when the State has come under repeated terrorist attacks.