Rally decries child recruitment
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 21: A protest march was taken out today demanding to stop kidnapping of children and release all the kidnapped children at once.

The protest march attended by many school children, teachers and representatives of civil organisations also demanded PREPAK (GS) group not to recruit child soldiers and PREPAK (VC) group to release the two mothers who have been detained in its custody.

Organised by Kanglei Apunba Ima Yaipha Lup, the protest march was taken out from THAU ground, Thangmeiband and concluded at MDU Hall where a public meeting was held.

Sit-in-protest being held to decry the numerous cases of kids being kidnapped for recruitment

The meeting proceeded with president of Kanglei Apunba Ima Yaipha Lup A Premabati Leima, senior citizen Prof N Mohendro, advocate of Gauhati High Court P Tomcha Meetei and chief editor of Kangleipakki Meiraa Wangkhemcha Shyamjai taking the dais as presidium members.

Addressing the meeting, Prof Mohendro observed that Manipur has been lagging behind other Indian States in terms of development and efforts are being made to develop the State with formulation of Vision Document 2020.In such a critical juncture, kidnapping of young children who are the human resources of the future and forcing them to become child soldiers would give a serious impact on the welfare of the State.

It would be a great loss to the society if the children who should be imbibed with social values are to be made to pick up guns at such a tender age, he added.

On the other hand, urging all concerned not to create fear and terror in the minds of the young children and release all the kidnapped children at once, the women's wing of the Manipur Network of Positive People organised a Wakat Meepham at Moirangkhom today.

Students of Macha Leima School also staged a similar demonstration in front of their school demanding to stop kidnapping children and release all the kidnapped children.

At Khurai Chaithabi Leirak, Khurai Area Nupi Marup organised a Wakat Meepham in protest against kidnapping of children, rise in price of essential commodies and extra-judicial killings.

Students coming from different schools of the area also participated in the protest demonstration.