Thoubal, April 19 : Residents of Andro village staged a sit-in protest at Pureiromba Shanglen, Andro Market, in Imphal East district on Sunday, condemning the Tronglaobi killings and stating that attacks by Kukis on Meiteis and Tangkhuls are “wars launched to break Manipur and wipe out indigenous communities.” Protesters demanded that the government ensure those involved in the killings are given lawful punishment at the earliest.
The sit-in was jointly organised by the All Andro Youth Clubs Organisation, All Andro Meira Paibi Association, Imphal East District United Clubs Organisation (IEDUCO), and ECDO, in coordination with AMUCO, COHR, MSF, AMAWOVA, and PLMPAM.
Leaders of various organisations addressed the gathering on the current situation. Participants raised slogans including: “Long live Manipur,” “We must protect our own land,” “Go back Central Forces,” “Stop killing civilians,” “We condemn the Tronglaobi incident,” and “The territorial integrity of Manipur cannot be compromised.”
The Secretary of the All Andro Youth Clubs Organisation stated that the actions currently being carried out by Kukis are wars launched to wipe out the indigenous people and break Manipur. By bombing and shooting Meiteis, and then turning on Tangkhul brothers and killing them, they are creating unrest in the state. They are obstructing education and livelihood, trying to stop indigenous people from learning, so as to wipe out indigenous communities, he added.
He also mentioned that we must participate in matters concerning our motherland, and we must work to save our children, who will be the future pillars of our homes. We cannot stop education and economic activities. On the other hand, the Indian Army and security forces are here only in support of Kukis under the name of SoO. Today’s sit-in is to raise our voice against all this and condemn the Tronglaobi incident, he added.
The Secretary of the All Andro Meira Paibi Association stated that, as mothers, they are deeply hurt and cannot accept the incident where Kuki narco-terrorists bombed and killed two young children along with their mother at night in Tronglaobi. They also cannot accept that Central Forces, who came saying they would protect them, shot dead three people who were voicing protest. Those involved in these incidents must be found at the earliest and given punishment under the law, she demanded.
