Imphal : The effigies of the Manipur governor, Chief Minister, Speaker, and BJP leaders were burnt by the irate women vigilante groups (Meira Paibis) after launching protests to the streets at Singjamei bazaar, Imphal on Tuesday night.
The Meira Paibis under the aegis of the All Singjamei Meira Paibi Committee set on fire the effigies of the Manipur governor, chief minister, Manipur Speaker, BJP NE in charge, and BJP Manipur Pradesh President at around 9 pm on Tuesday.

Terming Tuesday’s sitting of the state Assembly as a mockery to the people of Manipur and Indian democracy, the Meira Paibis are demanding the government to reconvene another session of the Manipur Legislative Assembly.

While taking to the streets in large numbers, they also condemned the ruling BJP-led government headed by Chief Minister N Biren Singh for concluding the state assembly session in just 30 minutes on Tuesday (August 29), a one-day 4th session of the 12 Manipur Legislative assembly.

Amidst burning down the effigies, they also shouted slogans, “Down with Manipur government.” They also called for the stepping down of Ministers and BJP leaders from their respective posts for failure to protect the lives of innocents owing to the ongoing ethnic violence in the state.

“The very short duration of the assembly session is a challenge to the Indian democracy, especially for the displaced people, who have been unable to return to their homes,”  Mema Devi, a leader of the group said on the sideline of the nocturnal protest.

Another Meira Paibi leader RK Memton also warned of launching different forms of agitation unless the government reconvenes another session at the earliest. In the ongoing ethnic violence, over 60, 000 people are displaced and over 150 lost their lives. The violence erupted on May 3 between the Meiteis and Kukis.