Founder president of All Manipur Womens’ Social Reformation and Development Samaj (Nupi Samaj) Th Ramani on Wednesday urged the politicians to stand united to repeal the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act completely from the state if they have any love for Manipur.

She was speaking to the media during the ‘41st Meira Paibi Houdokpa Numit’ observance held at the community hall of Kanto Sabal, Imphal West on Wednesday.

Under the draconian Act, many innocents and women have been killed and many of them are still suffering for the rest of their lives. If the politicians love Manipur, then they should stand united against AFSPA in order to repeal it completely from the state, she asserted.

Ramani further said the ‘meira paibi ’movement was started during 1972-73 to protect the women from violence and fight against the anti-social drugs including alcohols. The ‘Nishaband Meira Paibi’ was formed as a part of the movement, she added.

In the following years, many innocents including daily wages workers were killed and victimised by the security forces under AFSPA by alleging them as insurgents or related to insurgents, she said.  Moreover, incidents had occurred during which the security forces raped innocent women by taking advantage of the Act.

Under the advantage of the Act, the security forces assaulted many farmers who were working at the paddy fields even students returning from schools were apprehended. Under the draconian Act, security forces have been torturing the people, and it has been implemented in the entire state other than seven segments of Manipur, she added.

Although the people of the state had been suffering since the past many years under the Act, no political leaders of the state are sincerely fighting against the Act, Ramani added.

President in charge Apunba Manipur Kanba Ima Lup (AMKIL) Lourembam Nganbi Leima; president Tammi Chingmi Apunba Nupi Lup Yambem Momon Leima; president Churachandpur district, Nupi Samaj Gurumayum Ongbi Landhoni; president, Nongpok Leingak Apunba Nnupi Lup Yumlembam Meema Leima; president Leimakhong Area Development Committee RK Bimola, and others attended the function as presidium members.

As a part of the function the presidium along with Th Ramani paid floral tributes to the photograph of meira paibis.