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Students march in Manipur against drone, missile strikes

Chanting slogans like "Long Live Manipur," "Resign all incompetent MLAs," and "Give Unified Command to State Government," the students voiced their anger over the government's handling of the crisis.

News Arena Network - Imphal - UPDATED: September 9, 2024, 04:40 PM - 2 min read

Students march in Manipur against drone, missile strikes

(Clockwise from top left) Manipur Students' Union (AMSU) charge towards a CRPF convoy during a protest march against the recent violence in the state, in Imphal, Monday on Monday, Security personnel stop members of All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU) during a protest march against the recent violence in the state, in Imphal. Midnight protest across Imphal. Security personnel keep vigil during a protest march by members of All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU) against the recent violence in the state.

Thousands of students from schools and colleges in Manipur staged a protest outside the Chief Minister's Secretariat and Raj Bhavan on Monday, demanding protection of the state's "territorial and administrative integrity" and calling for stern action against those behind recent drone and missile attacks that left two people dead and over ten injured.

Chanting slogans like "Long Live Manipur," "Resign all incompetent MLAs," and "Give Unified Command to State Government," the students voiced their anger over the government's handling of the crisis.

They later met Chief Minister N Biren Singh and Governor L Acharya to press their demands.

Student representatives who spoke to Governor Acharya said they had submitted six demands, including the removal of the Director General of Police (DGP) and the Security Advisor for failing to control the violence.

They also called for the Unified Command, which is currently led by former CRPF DG Kuldiep Singh, to be placed under Chief Minister Singh's control.

On Sunday, the state government, in a meeting with Acharya, had also urged that the "Home ministry-run Unified Command" overseeing security operations in Manipur be transferred to the state government.

The Unified Command includes various security agencies operating in the region.

In Thoubal district, students in uniforms marched, demanding a guarantee of the state’s territorial and administrative integrity and opposing any form of separate administration.

Meanwhile, in Kakching district, thousands of locals protested the recent killings of civilians by suspected Kuki militants.

They demanded the abrogation of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement and urged the government to adopt a more aggressive stance against violence targeting civilians.