Womenfolk of Sekmai, who had been staging a nine-day sit-in protest along NH-2, took to the highway this afternoon in frustration after Prime Minister Narendra Modi failed to address their demands during his Manipur visit.
The protesters have been urging three key points: resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), free passage on national highways, and abrogation of the Suspension of Operation (SoO) pact with Kuki militants.
Their charter of demands was earlier submitted to the BJP Manipur president with the hope that it would find a voice in the Prime Minister’s Kangla speech.
But as Modi wrapped up his addresses at Churachandpur and Kangla without mentioning any of their concerns, the women declared the highways “free passage” and began marching towards Kangpokpi.
Police forces intervened and blocked the march before it could escalate further.
