United Nations, October 08, 2023 (PPI-OT): The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has urged the Indian authorities to protect Manipuri activist Babloo Loitongbam and his family after members of radical Meitei organisations Meitei Leepun and Arambai Tengol attacked his home on Thursday.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the internationally acclaimed activist has been critical of the two Meitei organisations fanning violence against Kukis. The northeastern state has been marred by ethnic violence between Meiteis and the Kukis since May 3.

Since the conflict broke out, Loitongbam has been demanding that Chief Minister N Biren Singh resign from his post.

“We are alarmed by threats to human rights defender Babloo Loitongbam by Meitei Leepun and Arambai Tengol groups in Manipur for speaking out on inter-communal violence since May,” the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said in a tweet on Friday. “We urge authorities to protect him, his family and home, and hold perpetrators accountable.”

Thursday’s attack came after he claimed in an interview that no church is standing in Imphal valley due to the conflict. In an interview with NewsClick, the activist said the Meitei Leepun and the Aarambai Tenggol have “injected” militancy into the minds of people. “They have articulation like the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh,” Loitongbam said. “Not a single church stands in the valley now. All churches are being destroyed.”

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Kashmir Media Service

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