Newmai News Network
Imphal: The women wing of the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) on Tuesday called for mass participation in the movement to remove a barricade set up by the Army along Tiddim Road (Imphal-Churachandpur road) at Phougakchao Ikhai in Bishnupur district.
The COCOMI, the apex body of various civil society bodies, has been urging the government and the authorities concerned to remove the Army barricade by August 30, 2023.
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As the same is not removed till date the COCOMI on Monday announced that they would storm the Army barricade on September 6 and warned that any untoward incident arising out of it will be the sole responsibility of the Central and the state government.
While endorsing the proposed movement of the COCOMI, the women wing of the apex body today called upon all sections of the society to cease their works for the day on September 6 and participate in the march to knock down the Army barricade.
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Speaking to reporters at COCOMI office in Imphal’s Lamphel today, media coordinator of the women wing RK Tharaksana Devi said that they endorsed the COCOMI’s movement and urged the people to converge at Phougakchao Ikhai while announcing that they will march to remove the Army barricade by 11 am.
She asked the reason behind the Army putting the barricade at the Meitei dominated area and prohibiting entry of the displaced people of the community to their villages.
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Reiterating the call for mass participation in the movement, the media coordinator said that it would not be possible for the COCOMI to achieve the goal without the people’s participation.
Attending the press conference, assistant coordinator of the COCOMI women wing, Wahengbam Luwangleima appealed to all people including the vendors at Khwairamband Keithel (all-women-run market) to come forward and join the movement.
She said that regarding the removal of the Army barricade, the COCOMI on many occasions apprised the state government for implementing the demand positively.
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