Amid the curfew and tight security arrangements in Imphal, thousands of women organised a massive rally in Imphal East district, Manipur demanding the repeal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958 (AFSPA 1958) from the state.
As the Winter Session of the Parliament began on Monday, thousands of women volunteers, locally called Meira Paibi, shouted slogans, held rally defying the curfew to draw the attention of the prevailing crisis in Manipur.
The rally, organised by different clubs and Meira Paibis, raised slogans calling for “removal of AFSPA from the state” as well as to “stop imposition of the draconian law” and “stop killing of women and children” in the northeastern state.
The rally commenced from Kongba Bazaar but was stopped after 3 km by a huge contingent of security forces at Konung Mamang, just one kilometer from the Chief Minister’s Secretariat. The demonstrators later returned to from where it started for meeting.
Meira Paibi Babina Maibam said to the media, “We are demonstrating against the continued suppression of indigenous people. The recent reimposition of AFSPA in areas under six police stations shows that the Centre is more focussed on suppressing the voice of the people and less concerned in dealing with Kuki Zo Hmar militants who kills women and children after taking hostage.”
The women also drew the attention of the Prime Minister of India towards the situation in Manipur.
