Manipur: Protest rally organised against Jiribam killings, AFSPA reimposition in Imphal East

Various civil society organisations of Manipur's Imphal East district carried out a protest rally, denouncing the reimposition of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).
 

The protesters condemned the brutal killing of six Jiribam hostages by suspected Kuki-Zo militants.
 

One of the protesters expressed the indifferences showed by Central government towards warring communities Meitei and Kuki.
 

Sharply rebuking the attitude of the Centre, the protester said, “The central government strongly reacted when a Kuki woman was paraded naked in beginning of the crisis. But when Kuki terrorists brutally killed six innocent woman and children of Meitei community, not a single words was uttered which is very unfortunate.” 
 

The protestors also sought justice for those killed in the Jiribam incident on November 11, when a group of Kuki militants attacked Jakuradhor under the Borobekra Sub-division in Jiribam, resulting in a gunfight with the CRPF.
 

One of the protesters also stated that the reimposition of AFSPA wouldn’t help in addressing the crisis; rather, it would aggravate the tension, further stating that resolving the Manipur crisis largely depends on the political will of the Central government.
 

The protesters raised slogans such as - 'Central government not to divide Manipur', 'repeal AFSPA', 'long live Manipur', 'don’t disintegrate Manipur’s integrity', 'stop killing women and children', among others.
 

The protestors also held a banner displaying images of victims of AFSPA - late Thangjam Manorama and Rose Ningsen.