Cry for central rule in Manipur at mass rally

SHILLONG, Aug 5: As the ethnic violence in Manipur shows no signs of abating, thousands of residents in Shillong united on Saturday to condemn the turmoil in that state.
They sought President Droupadi Murmu’s urgent intervention to bring an end to the violent clashes.
The people came together at a rally organized by the Catholic Association of Shillong (CAS). Leaders of various political parties, NGOs, churches, students and citizens joined it, carrying placards and banners calling for an immediate end to the violence.
Church leaders of different denominations took part in a prayer meeting held at the St Anthony’s Higher Secondary School playground. This was followed by the submission of a memorandum to the President of India through Governor Phagu Chauhan.
CAS president, JA Lyngdoh alleged the Manipur government officials abused powers to wreak havoc on the innocent people, with complete impunity.
The CAS urged Murmu to punish the perpetrators of the violence. It urged her to issue necessary directions to the law-enforcement agencies to ensure the safety of people and to various commissions, including human rights bodies, at the central and state level, to take suo motu cognisance of all the violent incidents in Manipur.
Lyngdoh slammed the people in authority, especially the police, for allegedly remaining as mute spectators and allowing a mob to outrage the modesty of some women and kill a man and his 19-year-old son on a street in broad daylight for attempting to rescue the victims.
Rev Dr Edwin H Kharkongor, who is the secretary of Khasi Jaintia Church Leaders’ Forum, said they participated in the rally to express solidarity with the victims of the violence.