Cancel SoO pacts with activists, 11 athletes of Manipur write letter

Imphal: Eleven (11) top athletes of Manipur have written a letter to the central government appealing to restore peace and normalcy in the state.

Eleven athletes from Manipur, including Olympic medalist Mirabai Chanu, have written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah over violence in the state.
Manipur players, who signed the letter to Amit Shah, urged him to find an early solution to the ongoing crisis in the state.

He also threatened to return his awards and medals if peace and normalcy were not restored in Manipur as soon as possible.
Signatories to the letter include – Padma award winning weightlifter Kunjrani Devi, former Indian women’s football team captain Bem Bem Devi, boxer L Sarita Devi, Olympic medalist Mirabai Chanu among others.

Manipur players have also called for blocking National Highway 2 passing through the state.
“National Highway 2 has been blocked at several places for weeks due to which the prices of essential commodities have increased… So, please block the highway as soon as possible,” Manipur players said to the Union Minister. Interior said in a letter to Amit Shah.

The players also demanded that the suspension of operations (SoO) agreements with militant groups be revoked.

He also demanded the central government “not to accept the demand to divide Manipur”.
It may be mentioned here that Union Home Minister Amit Shah is in Manipur, where he is ignoring the steps taken to normalize the situation in the state.

On Tuesday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah held important meetings with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) of Manipur in Imphal to restore peace and normalcy in the state.
Notably, Manipur has been on the boil since May 3 following clashes between two communities following widespread violence in the state.

Before the meeting with the CSO, Amit Shah also interacted with the women leaders of Manipur over breakfast.

Amit Shah said: “Together, we are determined to ensure peace and prosperity in the state.”

Union Home Minister Amit Shah reached Manipur’s Imphal on Monday (May 29) night.