Manipur violence: Olympic medallist Mirabai Chanu and 12 others threaten to return government awards

India's ace weightlifter and Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Mirabai Chanu, world boxing champion Sarita Devi and 11 other sports personalities from Manipur have threatened to return their government honours if the central govt fails to safeguard the state's unity and integrity.

The athletes requested the Narendra Modi government to protect Manipur, stating that any attempt to break the state is unacceptable to them and the people. 

They also submitted a memorandum to Home Minister Amit Shah at Raj Bhavan in Imphal, saying, "Kuki terrorists have been challenging the state's integrity by killing people and burning houses, despite the deployment of central security forces in the state."

They also alleged that "the central forces were not preventing the militants from attacking innocent civilians."

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Full list of athletes who have threatened to return government awards if violence doesn't stop in Manipur:

• Mirabai Chanu: Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna & Padma Shri(Weightlifting)
• Ngangbam Soniya Chanu: Arjuna awardee (Weightlifting)
• L Anita Chanu: Dhayanchand awardee (Weightlifting)
• N Kunjarani Devi: Padma Shri awardee (Weightlifting)
• Th Sanamacha Chanu: Arjuna awardee (Weightlifting)
• Sarita Devi: Arjuna awardee (Boxing)
• M Suranjoy Singh: Arjuna awardee (Boxing)
• L Ibomcha Singh: Dronacharya awardee (Boxing)
• Oinam Bembem: Padma Shri and Arjuna awardee (Football)
• M Bimoljit: Arjuna awardee (Wushu)
• W Sandhyarani Devi: Arjuna awardee (Wushu)
• Y Sanathoi Devi: Arjuna awardee (Wushu)
• L Shushila Devi: Olympian & Arjuna awardee (Judo)