Imphal: The All Manipur Nupi Marup (AMNM) condemns Manipur Government for filing an FIR against the three member fact-finding team of the National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW) who had recently visited the state to take stock of the prevailing situation.
The All Manipur Nupi Marup demands immediate withdrawal of the FIR filed against NFIW General Secretary Annie Raja, NFIW National Secretary Nisha Sindhu and independent Advocate Deeksha Duivedi. After conducting the fact-findings on Manipur crisis for around three days, the team from NFIW, which is one of the oldest women’s organisations in the country, held a press briefing at Manipur Press Club in Imphal on July 1, where the team termed the May 3 riot in Manipur as ‘state-sponsored riot’.
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Calling the FIR filed against the NFIW members unreasonable and unjustified, the association instead demanded the government to file an FIR against the 10 Kuki MLAs for demanding a separate administration in Manipur.
Addressing media at Irawat Bhavan in Imphal today, AMNM Secretary, L. Sumatibala said the NFIW team came to look into the condition of women and children who had been affected by the prevailing violence. She also slammed the government for failing to bring a timely resolution to the present crisis. While, All Manipur Nupi Marup President M. Shakhi warned that they would launch nationwide agitations under the aegis of the National Federation of Indian Women, if the FIR is not withdrawn at the earliest.
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It may be mentioned that an FIR was registered at Imphal Police Station on July 8 against the NFIW members under penal provisions for conspiracy to wage war against the Government of India, assaulting the President/Governor with the intent of compelling them to exercise a power, making statements prejudicial to national integration, defamation and promoting enmity among two groups and inciting riots, for concluding that the ethnic conflict under way in Manipur was “state-sponsored violence”.
The FIR was lodged based on a complaint filed by one L Liben Singh, son of late Sanoujam Pholo Singh of Heingang Makha Leikai.
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