GUWAHATI: A film actor from Manipur has been handed a three-year ban by Kangleipak Kanba Lup (KKL), a Meitei community body, for being the show-stopper in a beauty pageant during the North East Festival in New Delhi on September 16.
The punitive action by KKL stems from their earlier appeals to Soma Laishram, urging her to refrain from participating in such festivities, especially in light of the ongoing turmoil in Manipur.
KKL, in a press statement on Monday, revealed that concerted efforts were made to dissuade the actor from taking part in the beauty pageant but in vain. Both the Film Forum Manipur and the Film Actors Guild Manipur had jointly appealed to her, highlighting the dire circumstances facing Manipur. However, Soma Laishram chose to disregard these appeals, inciting outrage within the community, the statement read.
In response, KKL has imposed a three-year ban on Laishram, effectively immediately, preventing her from participating in any film-related activities, including features.
She is also prohibited from attending social functions during this period. The ban extends to individuals or groups involving Laishram in their ventures, who will bear the consequences of their actions.
KKL has called upon other significant organizations and Meira Paibis to support this decisive move, underscoring the gravity of the situation and the commitment to safeguard Manipur’s cultural heritage during this critical hour.
This is not the first time the KKL has imposed ban on artistes and actors from the state. In July last year, the organization had imposed a ban on actors Naorem Naoba Mei and Thokchom Berol due to their involvement in a “contentious video” related to Langol Ningthou Haraoba that had gone viral on social media. However, just a week later, the Meitei organization decided to lift the ban after both actors issued apologies for their actions.
