Guwahati: School and college students across Imphal valley formed multiple human chains outside their respective educational institutions on Children's Day to protest against the alleged abduction of three women and three children by militants in Jiribam district on Monday.
Police had on Tuesday said the six, who were internally displaced people living in a relief camp at Jakuradhor village in the district, were reported missing after the firing incident in which 10 "armed militants" were killed.
Holding black flags and donning black badges, the students raised slogans demanding the immediate safe release of the six and called for decisive action by the Centre and state govt. They carried placards saying "Today is Children's Day, release the innocent children", "Release our friends" among others.
The protest was organised by COCOMI Students' Front, an organisation of the Meitei community.
Police indicated operations were under way to trace and rescue them.
Terming the suspected abduction of the six missing persons "unfortunate", Manipur BJP president Sharda Devi called for their release on humanitarian grounds. "We demand the immediate release of the abducted six members of a family without any harm. We, member of BJP, appeal to the armed miscreants for their release," Devi told the media in Imphal.
Condemning the violence on "common people by armed miscreants", she said, "The abduction of six members of a family is unfortunate. We met governor (Lakshman Prasad Acharaya) in Assam, who in front of us, instructed officials to take action against those responsible for the violence."
The Delhi Meetei Coordinating Committee's (DMCC) women's wing has also made vehement appeals for the safe and immediate release of three women, two children, and one infant.
Addressing the media in Delhi, it asserted that it holds the Govt of India led by PM Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah, and the Manipur govt led by CM N Biren Singh, accountable and responsible for the safe release of the abducted individuals.
"The current egregious crime, marked by the abduction of women and children, necessitates immediate and resolute intervention from the highest echelons of govt. If the leadership does not act promptly to secure their release, any harm that befalls the victims could be perceived as tacitly endorsed by Indian state mechanisms," the DMCC declared.
Normal life was disrupted in Manipur's Imphal Valley on Wednesday due to a total shutdown called by 13 civil rights organisations to protest against the alleged abduction of three women and three children by militants in Jiribam district.