Imphal: Thousands of protesters on Thursday staged a rally in Manipur‘s Imphal East district demanding the removal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) from the state.
They also demanded the arrest of those responsible for the killings of three women and three children in the Jiribam district.
Notably, the Centre recently reimposed AFSPA, under which an area is declared as “disturbed” for the convenience of security forces to operate, in Manipur’s six police station areas, including the violence-hit Jiribam.
Meira Paibis and local clubs in the Lamlai constituency organized the rally, which began at Nongada. The protesters raised slogans as they marched 4.5 km towards Yorbung.
“We have reiterated time and again that AFSPA is a tool of oppression. The people of Imphal Valley and Naga areas have suffered the most under AFSPA, but the government has never acknowledged their suffering,” a protester said.
In Jiribam district, volunteers from the Coordinating Committee of Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) student wing locked several government offices as part of a two-day campaign demanding mass operations against Kuki-Zo militants and the removal of AFSPA.
According to the Union Home Ministry, the decision was taken given the continuous volatile situation there due to the ongoing ethnic violence.
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The police station areas where AFSPA has been reimposed are Sekmai and Lamsang in Imphal West district, Lamlai in Imphal East district, Jiribam in Jiribam district, Leimakhong in Kangpokpi and Moirang in Bishnupur.
