Against killing of civilians Hundreds of women protest in Thoubal

Imphal: Hundreds of women dressed in grass took out a protest rally in Manipur’s Thoubal district on Saturday, demanding a judicial probe into the killing of two civilians by security forces.
The rally was organized by a Joint Action Committee (JAC) against the killing of 36-year-oldSoibam Nanao Singh, one of the two victims of the Assam Rifles when they attacked a crowd near Pallel, the inter-district of Kakching and Temgnoupal. But there was firing on Friday.
The rally participants carried placards that read “Stop killing civilians”, “We demand a judicial inquiry” and “Go back to Assam Rifles”. They also raised slogans against the security forces.
The rally culminated in a sit-in at the Thoubal Athokpam ground, about 36 km from Imphal. The JAC has decided that S. Nano’s body will not be collected from the mortuary of JNIMS, Hospital Imphal until a judicial inquiry into his death is conducted.
JAC convener Keshim Rana said that security forces have no right to fire on unarmed civilians. He demanded that the guilty soldiers be brought to justice.

Many civil society organizations and political parties also participated in the rally. He condemned the killing of civilians and demanded an end to violence in the state.
Assam Rifles is yet to issue any statement on the incident.