Imphal: Malem Thongam, a prominent transgender activist, has resumed her hunger strike in front of the Kangla Gate in Imphal, aiming to bring peace and harmony to the crisis-hit state of Manipur.
Thongam began her hunger strike in New Delhi on February 22, demanding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to assess the situation in violence-affected Manipur. Despite her protest and a memorandum submitted, there has been no response from PM Modi.
According to Shanta Khurai, another well-known transgender activist in Manipur, Thongam’s demands also include the annulment of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement signed between the Center and Kuki militant groups.
Initially, Thongam continued her protest in Khurai, Imphal, but was arrested on the 10th day of her hunger strike on March 2. She was subsequently produced before the Imphal Magistrate Court at Lamphel, where she was remanded to three-day judicial custody on charges of attempting to take her own life and promoting enmity between different communities. Later, she was hospitalised at JNIMS due to deteriorating health.
During her 13th day of protest at Kangla Gate, Thongam was joined by several people, including members of the transgender community. However, after a few hours, police personnel intervened, and she was taken to JNIMS again.
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“This protest is not for myself but for the people in the state who are suffering. Those whose houses were burnt and those killed in the crisis are not strangers but our people. My protest here or outside the state is to seek urgent restoration of peace and normalcy but so far, I am not allowed to do so,” said Thongam.
Despite the challenges, the transgender activist has vowed to find another location to continue her protest and further press her demands to the government.
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