The Federation of Civil Society Organizations (FOCS), Manipur, has vehemently condemned the excessive action of the Rapid Action Forces (RAF) and other Indian Security Forces used against protestors, who are elder women, during the mass democratic protest rally held denouncing the Gwaltabi incident in various parts of Imphal Valley.
The FOCS Manipur, in a statement, said it strongly condemns and cannot take lightly the excessive action used in the name of suppressing the movement that led to injuries of elderly women. It also said the act of the Mahar Regiment to forcefully ask for the removal or erasure of the state (entity) name ‘Manipur’ from the MST bus is not a rightful or correct step, and the FOCS considered the people’s movement against such an irrelevant act a right step.
It also said that, from time to time, Manipur’s women have been at the forefront of any movement against unrightful governance or any wrong policy that confronted Manipur’s unity and integrity, or any threat or challenges against ethnic identity and demography or basic democratic rights. Manipur’s womenfolk have been holding the invaluable responsibility to lead the society in the rightful direction.
However, still today, the brutality of the security forces has caused grievous injuries, and it can be considered a timid act of PR. In a democratic movement, no solution can be brought by threatening or suppressing the people.
The statement also said taking appropriate action against the security forces and officials responsible for the Gwaltabi incident would be the right step and can only address the issue, not by suppressing the people’s movement.
