• Manipur violence victims protest in Moreh, Churachandpur, calling for more State forces

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    Manipur violence victims protest in Moreh, Churachandpur, calling for more State forces
    The protest follows the burning of approximately 15-16 abandoned Meitei houses in Moreh by a mob and suspected Kuki militants on...

    Digital Desk: More than 4,000 Meitei community members who had been driven from Moreh to the Tengnoupal and Churachandpur districts staged a sit-in protest on Thursday at Wangjing-Heirok Lamkhai in Thoubal district, calling for the deployment of more state forces in Moreh and the protection of lives there and in Churachandpur.

    The protest follows the burning of roughly 15-16 abandoned Meitei houses in Moreh by a mob and suspected Kuki militants on Wednesday. 

    The fire inflicted on Meitei homes by Kukis in Moreh on Wednesday in front of the numerous central paramilitary forces stationed in the area was fiercely criticised by one protester, named Leisangthem Tamem Leima, who is presently residing at the relief centre opened at Lamding Higher Secondary School.

    She also questioned the government's decision to keep Moreh under Chin-Kuki terrorist control. She pleaded with the two governments to send more state troops to Moreh and Churachandpur in order to protect the defenceless villagers there from the Kuki insurgents. 

    During the protest, placards reading "Go Back Assam Rifles," "Please Save Us Modiji," "Enforce More State Forces at Moreh," "We Want State Force Duty at Moreh, Awake State and Central Administration, and Enforce More State Forces at Moreh" were shown.

    She remembered the horrific moment that took place on May 3, the day the conflict started, in the late afternoon. When the Kukis began setting fire to the Meitei homes, the Meiteis fled for their lives and sought refuge in the Moreh police station and AR camp, she claimed. 

    She continued by saying that they stayed in the security camps for seven days and even had their meals on leaves. The AR staff afterwards moved them to safer locations.