Mass anti-militancy rallies in Manipur

Imphal, Aug 2 : People from all walks of life recently participated in several rallies across Manipur against the forcible recruitment of school children by militant groups.

Different students and teachers' organizations took out protest rallies in each district headquarter for what they called an "inhuman act by militants".

"As a student, I feel very shocked to hear that many of the young growing youth are kidnapped by undergrounds. I would like to request all the underground groups to free the children and give back to their own mothers," Ksh. Medonna Devi, a student.

Such protests have been going on for the last two weeks since some school students were kidnapped to be trained as militants.

A. Pari Meetei, another student said, "We also fear of going to school and going here and there to buy things. I don't like such things happening anymore in our state." Displaying placards like "stop kidnapping", "obey international laws" hundreds of children participated in the rally which was by the All Manipur Students' Union and Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur.

"The need of the hour is to mobilize the people as a whole and to send a message to those groups who are lifting these children not to do such acts and not to repeat such unwanted things in future," said L.Ratan Meitei, Secretary Head Quarter, Ethno Heritage Council. Recently, some militant groups kidnapped nine children to recruit them into their outfit. But the public pressure forced the outfits to release some of them.

ANI