Imphal: Thousands of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), along with members of the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), staged a protest on Monday demanding immediate steps by the state government for their resettlement and rehabilitation.
The protest erupted in response to the government’s failure to initiate timely administrative action to resolve the prolonged issues faced by the IDPs regarding their resettlement and the restoration of their homes.
Expressing their prolonged struggles while living in relief camps, the protestors attempted to march from Takhellambam Leikai in Imphal West towards Lok Bhavan. However, a large deployment of security personnel along the route prevented them from proceeding beyond the Keishampat junction.
Holding placards and shouting slogans such as “Let us return to our homes,” “Open national highways,” and “Manipur belongs to us,” the protestors voiced their dissatisfaction over the government’s failure to take concrete action despite multiple assurances given earlier.
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After a brief standoff at Keishampat junction, around eleven representatives, led by COCOMI convenor Khuraijam Athouba, were eventually allowed to proceed further. They met with the Chief Secretary and later held a meeting with Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla.
During these meetings, the delegation submitted a memorandum, reiterating their primary demand for the rehabilitation of IDPs and their safe return to their homes.The protestors also warned that the agitation will intensify if the government fails to address the demands of the IDPs on time.
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