Scores of people, mainly from the northeastern states, marched in solidarity with Manipur in Salt Lake on Saturday.
Many of them expressed fear that the flames of violence could spread beyond
Manipur.
“What is happening in Manipur can happen anywhere and we are very worried. This unrest will rock all neighbouring states if not handled immediately,” said Ahooma, who hails from Mizoram and is posted at the Mizoram House in Salt Lake.
Ahooma was accompanied by his daughter Dindi who studies in Class II in a Kolkata school.
Almost everyone at the rally was carrying a placard. One of them read “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”.
Zomawii, a homemaker from Mizoram who has lived here for more than two decades, said they had to organise a rally to show solidarity with the people of Manipur, “especially the women staying there who have been tormented in every way possible”.
“Manipur is burning. We have been following the violence closely and are shocked, to say the least. We could not sit homes and do nothing” Zomawii said.
The march started from City Centre in Salt Lake and wound its way to the Karunamoyee intersection around 2km away.
The protesters — a mix of students, government officials and professionals who hail from the Northeast but now stay in different parts of the city — reached the Karunamoyee crossing in nearly 30 minutes..
As the rally of more than 100 men women and children made its way several motorists and pedestrians were taking photographs and recording videos on their smartphones.
“We were surprised to see so many people out on the streets of Salt Lake marching for Manipur. We were out for an evening stroll but we felt we should also join as the cause is a very relevant one,” said Sayantani Chowdhury, a software professional who works in New Town.
Salt Lake is frequented by people who hail from the Northeast as the Mizoram House, Nagaland House, Arunachal Bhavan are located here.
There are several blocks where people hailing from these states who work or study in Sector V offices, hospitals and colleges stay as well.
Although the organisers had only circulated messages, mostly on social media, asking people to join most had turned up with placards made at home or printed at the neighbourhood printout shops.
Lalawampuia, who hails from Manipur and works for an oil major, said the people of the country should be collectively hurt by the inhuman acts committed in Manipur.
“We are deeply hurt and shocked by the treatment meted out to our sisters in Manipur. That is what has brought us together here and there has to be an end to this,” Lalawampuia said.
He referred to the sexual assault of two women in Manipur on May 4, a video of which caused nationwide outrage in July.