Shillong: Hundreds of people, including students and members of civil society groups, gathered at the iconic Don Bosco Square here on Sunday evening for a candle-lit vigil to express solidarity with the people and victims of the ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur.

Holding placards and singing “We shall overcome”, the people, condemning the ethnic violence in Manipur, also demanded immediate actions and appropriate steps by both the central and Manipur government to stop the senseless killings, violence against women and restore peace and normalcy.

The candle-lit vigil was organized by a group of concerned citizens.

“The Government of India must accede to the popular demand of the Kuki-Zo people for a separate administration which is the only political solution, to restore normalcy in Manipur. Apart from that, both the government of India and Manipur must ensure that perpetrators of the violence are arrested,” said Juii Haokip, one of the participants at the event.

Describing the Manipur violence as “civil war”, social activist Angela Rangad said the violence has been caused by those who are in power to spread hate and violence.

“We have to stop pointing fingers at each other,” Rangad said, appealing to both the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities to collectively point their fingers towards those in power at both the state and the centre and the alleged “groups that they have raised” to unleash this violence and hatred in Manipur.

(With UNI inputs)