Fuming over the arrest of three cadres of proscribed UNLF (Pambei) namely chief of Army Sidabamapu alias Thoiba, Chief intelligence Ingba and another cadre by NIA on Wednesday, locals of Thoubal and Kakching districts carried out protest demonstrations in the districts.
Meira Paibis of Wangjing-Lamding market in Thoubal district came out and blocked National Highway 102 road. Similarly, Meira Paibis of Yairipok market also blocked roads in the area, demanding immediate release of the arrestees.
Kakching district also witnessed hue and cry over Wednesday’s arrest when large numbers of Meira Paibis of Kakching market, Kakching Lamkhai in Kakching district headquarters and various areas in the district took to the streets, staging demonstrations.
All shops and markets of Kakching Keithel were reportedly closed as part of the demonstrations carried out in front of Naohal Lai in Kakching Market. Taking part in the protest, president of Kakching Apunba Nupi Lup, M Memcha condemned the arrest of the three cadres of the outfit amid the prevailing tense situation in the state. She said that mothers of Kakching decry the arrest of the trio, all the while pointing out the crucial roles taken by the outfit during such a critical juncture.
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She further demanded immediate and unconditional release of the arrestees, failing which she warned that the locals will intensify agitations.
On the other hand, speaking to the media during the protest held at Kakching Lamkhai, one protester identified as Jaya Khangembam demanded public clarification over the arrests of the three cadres of UNLF (Pambei), who had recently signed a peace agreement with the Indian Government. She lashed out at the Government stating that it allegedly deliberately failed to take appropriate actions against Kuki militants under SoO, when they violated the ground rules but made no delay in arresting village volunteers guarding the Meitei villages from the militants.
The irate protesters chanted various slogans demanding unconditional release of the arrested cadres of the outfit within 24 hours. They also decried the arrest of village volunteers and said that the centre and state governments must bear subsequent consequences if they fail to release them unconditionally, all the while expressing solidarity with the village volunteers. Protesters even warned of civil war against further arrests of village volunteers.
Meanwhile, protesting mothers at Kakching market stormed Kakching police station crying to arrest them too if the arrested cadres of UNLF are not released at the earliest.
