Manipur: Women's body holds protest against Assam Rifles' legal notice to RPI-Athawale's national secretary

A demonstrator at protest site felt that Maheshwar Thounaojam is the only politician and representative of the people, who has consistently raised the issue of unprovoked attacks on Meitei villagers.

Members of a women's body held demonstrations across five valley districts of Manipur on Saturday, demanding withdrawal of a legal notice served to a politician by Assam Rifles.

The Assam Rifles had on August 18 slapped the legal notice to Maheshwar Thounaojam for harming the 'reputation of the organisation' and discouraging and demoralising the central armed police force through statement he made at ‘Condolence of Meitei Martyrs’ in Delhi on June 30.

Representatives of the Committee on Mass Protest against Assam Rifles organised sit-ins to protest against the paramilitary force's legal notice to Republican Party of India (RPI-Athawale) national secretary Maheshwar Thounaojam.

Women in large numbers hit the streets in Uripok, Singjamei, Keisampat, Keismathong in Imphal West district and Wangkhei and Khurai in Imphal East to stage the demonstration.

Protests were also held in Thoubal, Kakching and Bishnupur districts during which women held placards and raised slogans against the paramilitary force.

"The protest is part of the People's Disobedience Movement. We are also requesting all employees of both the central and state governments to stop attending offices in response to the government's failure to pay due attention to the violence in Manipur since May 3," N Sharmila, a member of the committee, told reporters at Uripok.

A Shantilata, who participated in a demonstration at Bamon Leikai in Imphal East, said, "We strongly protest against the legal notice served to Thounaojam by the Assam Rifles. He is the only politician and representative of the people, who has consistently raised the issue of unprovoked attacks on Meitei villagers."

Thounaojam had earlier told PTI that he would not apologise and he was entitled to free speech in a democratic country like India.

Assam Rifles sought a written and public apology for the 'false allegation and defamation', asking him to retract the statement.