Manipur: Sit-in protests held across Bishnupur opposing replacement of the Gorkha Regiment

• Image Credit: Google

• May 14, 2024 | Guriya Khatun

The protests, which expressed strong opposition to the government's decision to replace the 5/9 Gorkha Regiment with the Assam Rifles, were held in a number of locations, including Leimaram, Waroiching, Irengbam, Keinou, and Ngaikhong Khunou.

Digital Desk: In Bishnupur district, Manipur, sit-in protests were staged on May 14 to urge that the Assam Rifles not replace the 5/9 Gorkha Regiment, which is currently stationed at Leimaram Waroiching under the district. 

The protests, which expressed strong opposition to the government's decision to replace the 5/9 Gorkha Regiment with the Assam Rifles, were held in a number of locations, including Leimaram, Waroiching, Irengbam, Keinou, and Ngaikhong Khunou.

Speaking to the media outside the sit-in demonstration at Irengbam, Makha Maning Leikai, one of the demonstrators claimed that the Assam Rifles' biased actions throughout the crisis are well known to the public. "In this context, it is regrettable that the government has chosen to substitute the Assam Rifles for the 5/9 Gorkha Regiment, which is currently being deployed at Leimaram Waroiching," she continued. 

"Assam Rifles aided armed miscreants, as seen in images and a video. When armed miscreants pillage and destroy property, this force does little more than watch. If individuals with such bias are assigned to defend the periphery, we will feel insecure. She urged, "Don't remove the 5/9 Gorkha Regiment and replace it with the Assam Rifles until and unless normalcy returns." 

Furthermore, she mentioned that they always felt safe because the 5/9 Gorkha Regiment, which is currently stationed at Leimaram Waroiching, used to patrol every day from Leimaram Waroiching to Ngaikhong Khunou. 

A second person who made the same demand during the Keinou sit-in protest was Meira Paibi. She forewarned that agitation in many forms would be initiated if the government forcibly replaced the 5/9 Gorkha Regiment with Assam Rifles from Leimaram Waroiching. She declared, "Any consequences should be the government's responsibility."