‘People of Manipur will stand by Bimol Akoijam’: Protesters rally against sexual harassment allegations

A large number of people gathered near Congress MP Angomcha Bimol Akoijam’s residence in Keishamthong, Imphal West, on Wednesday, October 14 to protest sexual harassment allegations against him, describing them as politically motivated and an attempt at character assassination.

The protesters staged a sit-in outside the MP’s residence before taking out a rally to the BJP headquarters at Keishampat. They raised slogans rejecting the allegations against Akoijam and criticising the BJP, with some participants asserting that the charges were baseless.

One of the protesters, Jeniffer, said the allegations were unacceptable and maintained that the people of Manipur would continue to support the Congress MP. She added that the law should take its course and that the truth would eventually emerge.

“Since the beginning of the crisis in Manipur, Bimol has fearlessly raised his voice in Parliament and wherever possible to ensure that the truth comes out. Making such allegations against a person who has consistently spoken up for the people is an attempt to silence him,” she said.

Describing Akoijam as one of the most respected figures in Manipur, Jeniffer compared him to Hijam Irabot, a prominent figure in Manipur’s political and social history. She said the protesters would continue to stand by the MP.

The protesters also questioned the police response to their demonstration, alleging differential treatment compared with a recent BJP-led protest demanding Akoijam’s resignation. They claimed that while their rally was a democratic form of agitation, police personnel attempted to stop them, whereas the BJP’s demonstration had proceeded without similar obstruction.

Akoijam later came out of his residence and addressed the gathering assembled outside the gate.

The protest comes amid sexual harassment allegations against Akoijam, a former professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University’s Centre for the Study of Social Systems under the School of Social Sciences, who was reportedly dismissed from service.

According to reports, at least 11 female students filed sexual harassment complaints against the professor in May. The complaints allegedly accused him of inviting students to his campus residence under the pretext of meetings or gatherings and attempting to sexually harass them. Some students also alleged that he made obscene and inappropriate remarks in class.

The reported dismissal order cited the relevant service rules and Rule 11(ix) of the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules while imposing the punishment.

Akoijam has reportedly described his dismissal as a “witch hunt” and questioned whether due process was followed by the university.

The allegations and the circumstances surrounding his dismissal have since become a political issue in Manipur. Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh has called on the Congress MP to resign, while Akoijam has challenged the circumstances of his dismissal and raised questions about the procedure followed by the university.

The protesters, meanwhile, maintained that the allegations should be dealt with through the legal process and reiterated their support for the MP.