Hyderabadi Manipuri Society calls for sit-in-protest, calls violence national emergency

HYDERABAD: The Hyderabadi Manipuri Society (HMS) has planned for a sit-in protest at Dharna Chowk on Sunday in response to the violence in Manipur.

Manipur has been mired in violence for more than six weeks, according to reports. The All Tribals Students Union Manipur's protest against a Manipur High Court judgement directing the state to consider the Meiteis' petition for ST status sparked the violence that began on May 3, 2023.

"As a mark of protest against the violence going on in Manipur, we the people of Manipur living in Hyderabad have come together under the aegis of Hyderabad Manipuri Society to organise a sit-in protest on June 18, 2023 at Dharna Chowk Marg, Lower Tank Bund, Kavadiguda, Hyderabad, Telangana," the Society declared in an official statement on Saturday.

This violence in Manipur has killed over 120 people, injured over 300, and displaced over 70,000 people, and the number of dead and injuries continues to rise by the day. The situation has deteriorated since the National Highway 2 blockade, which has hampered the transportation of crucial commodities such as food, medication, and other items.

The Hyderabadi Manipuri Society declared it a national emergency, warning that if the situation was not addressed soon, it could escalate to a much larger human tragedy. The Society believed that extending the violence would result in not only greater losses and destruction, but also the eradication of the indigenous population from the earth's surface.

"As a civil society group and as Manipuris living abroad, it has become critical for us to be vocal about our current situation in order to garner the attention and support of the entire world in order to bring about a resolution to this conflict. We regard the current situation as a National Emergency that, if not addressed quickly, might lead to a much larger humanitarian disaster. We request that the media help us amplify our message of peace and appeal for assistance in seeking a peaceful resolution to this crisis," said the Hyderabadi Manipuri Society.