Imphal : Meira Paibi’s of Manipur, the most prominent women’s  group had taken out a massive torch rally in the heart of Imphal as well as in every local area on Tuesday night demanding the  withdrawal of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with certain militant groups and the removal of the Assam Rifles from the state.

Coalition of Civil Societies of Manipur (COCOMI) had urged the people of Manipur to join demonstrations and form human chains as a protest against the alleged nexus between the Assam Rifles and Kuki militants and these rally was organised in response to the call.

The torch rally was held from 8PM till 9PM where Meira Paibis and other protesters raised slogans like “take stringent action against Kuki Narco terrorists” and “withdraw Assam Rifles immediately.”

During the rally, participants chanted slogans “Remove Assam Rifles immediately,” “Withdraw SoO agreement,” “Long live Manipur,” and “Save territorial integrity of Manipur.”

There is an increasing perception amongst the general public in Manipur that Assam Rifles has not done enough to defuse the tensions and many a time the public opinion states that Assam rifles is either remains a mute spectator at the time of any incidents effecting Meitei’s when Kuki militants attack the valley villages.

The rally witnessed many civil society organisations, people from varied strata demanding and echoeing these sentiments. Today COCOMI is also conducting a people’s convention in Imphal.