Guwahati: A group of ‘Meira Paibi’ (women vigilantes), also referred to as the ‘guardians of civil society,’ from Bishnupur district’s Torbung village in the northeast state of Manipur, on Monday, reportedly ransacked the Imphal house of the former super cop of Manipur, Thounaojam Brinda. The group also allegedly demanded Brinda’s immediate relocation to Torbung amidst intensifying tensions.
The uproar stems from the resurgence of a viral call recording, allegedly featuring Brinda, discussing the genesis of the ethnic clash that erupted between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities in Manipur on May 3, 2023. The Torbung Gram Panchayat, housing a cluster of Meitei villages abutting Kuki-Chin dominated Churachandpur district in South Manipur is allegedly the flash point of the ethnic conflict, a group of Imphal-based senior journalists said in a press release.
Brinda had allegedly pointed a finger at the ‘Arambai Tenggol,’ a radical Meitei group of Manipur, accusing them of inciting the Torbung clashes on May 3 this year. These allegations reportedly prompted a group of the Meira Paibis from Torbung to storm Brinda’s house, accusing the former cop of accepting bribes to propagate a false narrative.
The group reportedly accused Brinda of making baseless allegations against the ‘Arambai Tenggol, who they said came to Torbung to rescue the villagers from the onslaught of the arsonists who attacked and burned the villages in Torbung, the release said.
This is reportedly not the first instance where Brinda faced backlash as her previous remarks targeting the ‘Arambai Tenggol’ and ‘Meitei Leepun,’ another radical Meitei group of Manipur, also incited widespread outrage. The recent incident reportedly fueled fresh anger, as a senior journalist, referred to as ‘uncle’ by Brinda, reportedly inquired in a call about a controversial revelation she made, attributing the blame for the ongoing ethnic clashes in the state, the statement said.
The situation reportedly remains tense as the demand for Brinda’s relocation gains momentum, underscoring concerns and igniting debates about the intricate societal dynamics within Manipur, it added.
Earlier on Monday, another women’s group belonging to ‘Imagi Meira,’ reportedly forcefully entered the Manipur Assembly premises, confronting the Manipur Speaker to address the issue of the 10 Kuki MLAs of the state, who are yet to be dismissed despite their calls for Manipur’s disintegration. The women’s group expressed dismay, seeking clarity on the matter, the release said.
Pacifying the group, Manipur Assembly Speaker Th Satyabrata Singh reportedly disclosed that the MLAs in question had been issued show cause notices and assured them that a definitive decision regarding the fate of these lawmakers would be reached by Friday, the release further said.
The writer is a senior independent journalist covering the Northeast.
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