Imphal: Expressing profound grief over the prevailing Manipur conflict, which completes one year today, seven women from Sekmai area shaved off their hair and took out a cycle rally on the theme ‘Seeking Protection of Indigenous People & Territorial Integrity of Manipur’ on Friday. They expressed disappointment that both state and central governments have failed to resolve the ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur, which erupted on May 3 last year.
Koujengleima Youth Development Organisation (KYDO), Awang Sekmai, organized the cycle rally, which took off from KYDO ground in Awang Sekmai, a Red Zone area of the ongoing crisis. They passed through Pheidinga towards Kangla, chanting slogans such as ‘We Want Peace,’ ‘Protect Territorial Integrity,’ ‘Protect Indigenous People,’ etc.
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One of the women, Kh. Inaobi, said she is extremely saddened by the fact that the government has failed to resolve the ongoing conflict. She appealed to both state and central governments to bring peace and normalcy to the state.
The Meetei/Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities in Manipur mourns the loss of their loved ones as the strife torn state marks one year of conflict that erupted on May 3, 2023, with hope for resolution still a far cry.
Sarena, who lost her home in the ethnic violence said that her family home in Tuibong, Churachandpur town was destroyed. Living in Bishnupur relief camp, Sarena, now an inmate at Old DC Complex, says she misses her home and that there is no place better than home. She complains about the neglect the government has shown towards their plight, “Thinking about it breaks our hearts,” says Sarena.
It is worth noting that a total of 87 bodies, including a one-month old baby, who died in Manipur violence, were buried during a mass burial programme held at Kuki-Zo martyrs cemetery, Sehken in Churachandpur district on December 20, 2023.
The ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur has claimed the lives of more than 200 people, of which 105 deceased persons are reported to be from the Meitei community, and at least 49 people are still missing, out of which 34 missing persons are from the Meitei community.