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200,000 Manipuris protest truce extension

Nearly 200000 people on Thursday defied prohibitory orders and took out rallies in two different places of Imphal against the Centre-National Socialist Council of Nagaland (I-M) ceasefire extension in Manipur amid tight security measures.

Official sources said more than 100000 people including Nagas, Kukis, Nepalis and Muslims from Sekmai, Khurkhul, Phumlou, Koirengei, Mantripukhri and other areas gathered at the Manipur Public School ground after marching in a procession and held a public meeting.

They added another 100000 people took part in an anti-ceasefire meeting at Porompat area.

Several speakers called for maintaining unity among the people and blamed central leaders 'for attempting to create a divide between the people of the hill and valley'.

The meetings organised by United Committee Manipur called for immediate withdrawal of ceasefire 'before the situation worsened'.

Meanwhile, leaders from Manipur on Thursday reiterated their demand for ceasefire withdrawal when they met Union Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani to discuss the latest developments with regard to the Centre's decision to review the truce accord.

The delegation, led by Union Minister Chaoba Singh, reiterated their demand for complete withdrawal of the ceasefire and urged the home minister to take necessary steps in this regard, delegation sources said.

The team earlier met former prime minister Chandra Shekhar and Nationalist Congress Party leader Sharad Pawar with the sources quoting both the leaders as saying the government would have to 'rectify the mistake'.

The meetings come a day before Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's meeting with chief ministers of all northeastern states to discuss the issue, which has created large-scale unrest in Manipur and other parts of the northeast.

The Complete coverage of the Naga truce extension protests

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