By Matters India Reporter
Agartala, July 31, 2023: Three peace rallies were held at various parts of Agartala diocese in Tripura in solidarity with the victims of violence in Manipur.
In the capital city of Agartala, a candlelight rally was organized by the diocese’s women’s commission July 30 in collaboration with Church-run educational institutions, Self Help Groups and other Churches.
The convener of the rally and the secretary of the commission Sister Jolly Kottarathil, a member of the Sisters of Our Lady of Fatima, said that the rally was organized “to condemn the heinous crimes done to women in Manipur, extend solidarity to the suffering victims, and appeal for an end to the three-month-long violence and strife.”
The rally was attended by People from various walks of life, many of whom were students who held lit candles in one hand and placards with peace captions in the other. The gathering included many from the Kuki tribe who are in Agartala for study or work. Direct air and train link between the two states makes it easy for the students.
The peaceful silent rally which started near the Heritage Park and proceeded to the Gandhi statue near former Raj Bhawan, was attended by leaders of various church denominations together with their believers. It included Bishop Lumen Monteiro of Agartala.
The participants wore black badges and held lit candles while walking in silence. Many were also seen carrying banners and placards urging the return of peace to Manipur.
Sister Kottarathil also said that the rally was organized to register “our condemnation of the despicable deeds done to women in Manipur, which are an affront to the dignity of all women and unjustifiable in any civilized society.”
At the end of the rally, the spokesperson of the diocese Salesian Father Joseph Pulinthanath addressed the media. While extending solidarity to the suffering people of Manipur, he called upon the authorities to ensure that peace and normalcy returned to Manipur at the earliest.
United Christian Forum for Human Rights, Dhalai District, Ambassa Tripura also organized a peace rally in solidarity with the victims of violence in Manipur. More than 2,000 people of various cultures and religions took part in the rally that began near the Town Hall and after proceeding to TRTC (Tripura Road Transport Corporation) Bus Stand returned to the same spot.
Bijoy Kumar Hrangkhawl, a prominent leader and a member of the Baptist Church, inaugurated the rally with a prayer. The participants carried placards with captions urging the return of peace to Manipur.
The United Forum, formed about fifteen years ago, consists of various denominations and has Reverend BK Thang Halam from the Bible Church as president, Divine Word Father Ivan D’Silva, the parish priest of Ambassa parish as secretary and Reverend Biswajit Debbarma of Evangelical Fellowship Church of India, the treasurer.
The parish of Khumulwng also organized a candlelight peace rally at Belbari, 24 km from Agartala.