Sit in protest against the Chandel incident

IMPHAL, December 28:  A sit in protest was organised today at Iboyaima Sanglen at Hapta Kangjeibung by Film Forum Manipur, Manipur State Sumang Lila, All Manipur Matam Isei Kanglup (AMMIK) and Civil Society Organisation in continuation of protesting against the Chandel incident on December 18. The sit in protest also resolved that further sit in protests and rallies would be held in various parts of the state and demanded that the accused should be booked under the law of the law and be punished. Calling upon the Central Govt and the State Govt to rid of the designated camps of NSCN (IM) from the state, the gathering also called for further investigations into the 24 Dec incident at Napetpalli and that the accused should be booked under the law and punished.Further, it was stressed that the photograph of the NSCN (IM) cadre who has been announced as wanted should be widely circulated in mass media including local cable TV channels and that public protests should be carried out in a democratic manner at the residences of the 60 MLAs and 3 MPs of the state.

Speaking at the program, FRENDS President, Sapamcha Jadumani, said that the Indian Government and the state Government must  immediately remove the NSCN (IM) camps from the state. "If the Government don't take any steps now, then many such incidents will arise in the future," said Jadumani who pointed out that since the the NSCN (IM) and the Central Government are in a peace talk, the culprit can be booked.

Jodhachandra Sanasam, President AMIK who spoke at the sit in protest said, the Government of India sees the state government as timid which clearly shows in the order from the Union Home Minister to Manipur CM to control the Dy CM as reported on  Dec 24 in the Hindu Newspaper. "It clearly depicts that Indian government has a clear cut knowledge about the designated NSCN (IM) camps in our state," he said.Adding that the hill and the valley must join together to make Manipur peaceful while realizing the political tool of divide and rule policy which made by the Indian Government. He also said that the protests against the incident at Chandel is not aimed any particular community but is against the NSCN (IM).

Speaking at the function, UCM President, Nabachandra, said that the state Chief Minister is helpless and cannot take any stand on his own even when it was a matter of the interests of the state. "Even the police force is helpless at the hill areas. They cannot perform any official tasks in the hills but in the valley, they are so powerful that they beat up people protesting peacefully," he said.

Speaking at the function, AMUCO President  KT Rehaman also validated that the issue of protest  is not against any particular community but was the result of pent up emotions of the people over numerous cases of assault committed by the NSCN (IM).

He further requested the public to co-operate and to support protests that would be taken up in both the valley and hill areas.