LAMKA, September 18: Womenfolk in the district continued staging sit in protests in various parts of the district in support of the JAC Churachandpur demanding a separate administration of the tribal dominated districts.
In the meantime, the JAC imposed public curfew was relaxed from 5am till 1pm today.
Showing support to the demand for autonomy of the hill people, womenfolk also took out a massive torch rally in the late afternoon yesterday which commenced from Hiangtam Public Ground with slogans raised during the rally including “Tribal Unity: Let it sustain; the three bills: Let it be revoked.”
The torch bearing womenfolk had converged from different localities of Lamka Town including suburbs like Mata, Thingkangphai, Kangvai, Saikot, etc.
Meanwhile, in another incident, late in the afternoon, women folk who had been virtually handling the protest in Churachandpur burned down Health minister Phungzathang Tonsing’s residence for the third time yesterday since fierce protest erupted in the district against the passing of the three bills in the State Assembly on August 31.
The womenfolk were angry that supporters of the minister had once again tried to repair the minister’s residence even though the bodies of the nine who died during the ongoing movement in the district are lying at the Churachandpur District Hospital.
Prior to today’s torch rally, chief convenor of the JAC and representatives of SoO signatory groups UPF and KNO deliberated on the importance of capitalising on the unprecedented unity among the tribals and to sustain it.
ZRO chief advisor Khaizasong said a team of the UPF and the KNO will meet the Home secretary in Delhi and urged for an observation team from the Centre to visit Churachandpur.
He added some positive response will transpire soon which was welcomed with a thunderous applause from the womenfolk who were all dressed in black as a sign of mourning.
On the other hand, many protestors who participated in today’s rally said they would not allow the present struggle to die out, while others from Hebron Veng of New Lamka said they want the supporters of the minister who tried to repair the minister’s residence which is an insult to the deaths and public sentiment should be punished by the public.