Womenfolk hold a human chain protest against 37 AR stand off

Manipur: Condemning the act of 37 Assam Rifles trying to obstruct the duty of Sugnu police in Manipur’s Kakching district, a video of which went viral, women of Nongmeibung area formed a human chain on Saturday protested against this act.
Women from the Nongmeibung Women’s Development Association demonstrated the human chain with club members from the Eastern Students’ Club.
Muttam Sobita, one of the protestors, told the media on the sidelines of the protest that the women of the area strongly condemned the action of 37 Assam Rifles when they tried to block the main gate of Sugnu Police on Friday.
He said that some personnel of Assam Rifles had earlier been seen helping suspected Kuki militants under the SoO. They alleged that the action of Sugnu clearly shows that the Assam Rifles is directly and indirectly supporting the Kuki SO militants.
He said that people suspected that some top officials of Assam Rifles might be involved in illegal poppy plantations in the hilly areas of Manipur.

Earlier, there were media reports that some Kuki militants under the SoO were directly and indirectly involved in illegal poppy plantations in the hill districts of Manipur.
Sobita said that due to harassment by the Assam Rifles in the past, the women of Manipur staged a nude protest in front of the Kangla Western Gate, demanding the withdrawal of the Assam Rifles from Kangla.
She warned that the central and state governments should take necessary steps to withdraw the Assam Rifles from Manipur before similar and violent protests are staged.
A human chain protest was held along Nongmeibung Road starting from Palace Compound Traffic Crossing to Porampet Crossing. The protesters chanted “Go Back Assam Rifles”, “Long Live Manipur” and other slogans.