Kakching, April 10 : Vendors of Kakching market staged a protest demonstration on Friday expressing strong condemnation of a recent act of terrorism allegedly carried out by Kuki militants at Tronglaobi in Bishnupur district.
The protest, organized by the Kakching Keithel Apunba Ema Lup, saw participation from various communities, including Meitei, Meitei Pangal, and hill communities, along with women vendors, local clubs, civil society organizations (CSOs), and members of the general public.
Speaking at the protest, the advisor of Kakching Keithel Apunba Ema Lup, Kshetrimayum Namosakhi, strongly condemned the brutal killing of the children through the use of explosives and the subsequent harm caused to civilians by security forces. She described the incident as deeply inhumane and unacceptable. She also urged the authorities to ensure the safety and protection of civilians, stating that if central security forces fail to safeguard innocent lives, they should be withdrawn from the region. She further appealed to the government to take stronger and more decisive action to bring those responsible to justice.
Kshetrimayum Chhatradhari, President of the Joint Non-Government Voluntary Organisation Kakching, also condemned the attack, stating that the use of powerful explosives against civilians, resulting in the death of a child and injuries to many, is highly deplorable. He further criticized the reported firing by security forces that led to additional civilian deaths and injuries. He demanded strict punishment for all those involved in such acts and urged the government to take firm action to ensure that such incidents do not recur again in the future.
Protesters raised slogans demanding justice for the victims of Tronglaobi, an end to acts of terrorism, immediate and appropriate government action, and the restoration of law and order across the state.
They emphasized that peace and security must be ensured equally in both hill and valley regions.
