Manipur women’s group demands probe into CRPF role in Gelmol protest deaths

A women’s organisation in Manipur has demanded strict action against personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) for their alleged involvement in firing during a protest at Gelmol on April 7, which reportedly left three people dead and more than 20 injured.

Addressing the media on Wednesday, convenor of Ima gi Meira, Thokchom Sujata, condemned what she described as the excessive use of force by central forces while dealing with demonstrators gathered outside the CRPF camp at Gelmol, located along the border of Bishnupur and Churachandpur districts.

According to the organisation, protests erupted across several areas following the Tronglaobi bomb attack in Bishnupur earlier this week, which was allegedly carried out by suspected Kuki militants. Demonstrators also assembled outside the CRPF camp in Gelmol, where some protesters reportedly entered the premises and damaged property.

Sujata alleged that CRPF personnel resorted to live firing in an attempt to disperse the crowd, resulting in three fatalities and injuries to over 20 others. She termed the alleged use of bullets against civilians as a violation of established protocols for crowd control.

“Direct firing on protesters is against the law and standard operating procedures. Those responsible must face stringent action,” she said.

The organisation further alleged a lack of adequate response from security forces in preventing the Tronglaobi attack despite the proximity of the CRPF camp to the site of the incident. It claimed that public anger, which led to the protest at Gelmol, was triggered by perceived lapses in security.

Sujata also raised concerns over the handling of protests in the valley districts, alleging bias in operations. She called for replacing central forces with state police in such situations, stating that local forces would be more accountable.

Additionally, the group sought an update within 10 days on the arrest of three cadres of the United Kuki National Army (UKNA), who were apprehended during security operations launched after the Tronglaobi blast