A group of Meira Paibis (Meitei women torch-bearers) from Imphal Valley on Wednesday revived the demand for the removal of the Assam Rifles from strife-torn Manipur.

Representatives of the Committee on Mass Protest Against Assam Rifles called on governor Anusuiya Uikey on Wednesday evening to remind her of their August 9 memorandum submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi through her, a Meira Paibi leader from Imphal told The Telegraph after the 30-minute meeting at the Raj Bhavan

“Our committee (of Meira Paibis) wanted to know from Madam Governor what is the status of our memorandum to the Prime Minister seeking the removal of the Assam Rifles since there is no response or development on the ground. She said she had discussed the issue with the Centre and would discuss it again. We want their removal,” the Meira Paibi leader said.

The Assam Rifles is a paramilitary force under the administrative control of the Union home ministry and the operation control of the Indian Army.

The Meira Paibis and the ruling BJP in Manipur have accused the Assam Rifles of
favouring the Kuki-Zo communities in the ongoing conflict.

On August 9, the Raj Bhavan had said in a media statement: “Women leaders of Committee on Mass Protest Against Assam Rifles called on Governor and submitted a memorandum through her to the Prime Minister. The memorandum demands removal of Assam Rifles (AR) from the entire State of Manipur and to take action against central forces personnel who indulged in excessive atrocities towards Meira Paibis of Manipur.”

The Meira Paibi delegation on Wednesday raised another issue before the governor.

“We also requested the governor’s intervention in getting the legal notice issued by the Assam Rifles to Republican Party of India (Athawale) leader Maheshwar Thounaojam revoked. The governor said she would look into it. We apprised her that if the notice is not withdrawn within 15 days, we will launch a mass agitation because the issue raised by the RPI leader is linked to our demand as well,” the Meira Paibi leader said.

The legal notice was issued to Thounaojam on August 18 seeking a public apology from him within 15 days for allegedly making false allegations on June 30 against the Assam Rifles and also seeking its withdrawal from the state.