Imphal, July 27: Responding to the need of the hour, protest demonstrations were staged, rallies taken out and public meeting held in different parts of the four valley districts today demanding to stop kidnapping children and recruitment child soldiers, to hand over all the kidnapped children to their respective parents and allow them to study in peace.

At Keishamthong Ima Keithel, the protest demonstration was held under the aegis of Keishamthong Top Leirak Meira Paibis Lup.

Meira Paibis of Keishamthong Top Leirak, Hodam Leirak and Longjam Leirak also staged protest in their respective localities.

At Kwakeithel Soibam Leikai Haorokchambi ground, people of the area staged a Wakat Meepham under the aegis of the Local Development Association, Kwakeithel Soibam Leikai.

Decrying kidnapping of children and recruiting them as child soldiers, Fadibi Road Students' Club, Utlou organised protest demonstration at Utlou while Eastern Youths Constructive Association, Kongpal Porompat joined hands with Kongpal Nupi Samaj in organising similar protest demonstration at Kongpal.

At Oinam Keithel, Oinam Meira Paibi Lup protested child kidnapping and urged the militant groups to keep the promise of not recruiting child soldiers.

Future Development Drug Users' Organisation; Takyel Kongbal Chaokhat Thourang Apunba Club; Popular Union Club, Kairang Maning Leikai also staged protest demonstration against child kidnappings.

All Yairipok United Club Organisation, Yairipok; All Andro Meira Paibi Association; Apunba Nupi Khunai Lamjing Meira Paibi Lup; Eastern Clubs Development Organisation also protested against kidnapping children for recruitment as child soldiers.

Womenfolk of Akham, Ngairangbam, Kwasiphai Laingamkhul also staged protest demonstration at Akham Market shed from 10 am to 4 pm protest child kidnapping.

Recent Youth Club, Moidangpokpi has demanded release of the three missing children namely Naorem Rabi, Naorem Bisan and Laishram Ago and handed them over to their respective mothers.

Similar protest demonstrations were also staged at various places including Tera, Kwairamband Bazar under the flyover bridge, Khuyathong Keithel, Khuyathong opposite of ABC Godown, Lei Ingkhol, Khabam Lamkhai, Khabam Maning Leikai community Hall, Koirengei Bazar, Nahabam Basketball ground, Porompat Thawan-thaba Leikai, Uripok Yambem Leikai, Naoremthong Bazar, Tera Loukrakpam Leikai, Chingamakha Liwa Pukhri Achouba Mapal, Naharup Pangong Makhong, Malom Bazar, Elangbam Leikai, Cosmopolitan School (Chingkhu), Heirangoithong, Maibam Leikai, Lamshang Bazar, Nagamapal Keithel, Khongman Students' Club's community hall, Khagempalli Pankha Ningom Leirak, etc.

On the other hand, a public meeting convened by Thoubal Keithel Apunba Nupi Lup today has adopted various resolutions including setting up of mobile vigilant groups of women in each localities and boycott of all the UG groups involved in recruitment child soldiers.

Meanwhile, around 3,000 students participated in a protest rally taken out in Moijing area under the aegis of Rural Organisation for Social Alleviation, Moijing Thoubal today.

Slogans like 'Don't kidnapped us', 'Save our life', 'We like pen not gun', etc were shouted during the rally.

Similar protest rallies were also taken out at Tera and Sagolband area.

Kripa Society, Lamlambung has also strongly condemned kidnapping of children.

In a statement, the Society categorically stated that the instances of child rights violation consequent to recruitment of child soldiers by LTTE should not be repeated in Manipur.

Workers Union Manipur, Pureiromba Youth Club, Imphal Bazar Communities, North Imphal Meira Paibi Apunba Lup (Khabam Lamkhai), All Manipur Secondary School Teachers' Association, ACOAM-Lup Kangleipak, Khunai Kanba Apunba Meira Paibis Lup (Thoubal District), Jammiatulama-e-Manipur Sadar Bazar Jama Majid, Managing Committee of Modern High School (Mayang Imphal), All Manipur Nupi Marup, etc have also come out strongly against the current trend of kidnapping young children for recruitment as child soldiers by the militants.