Imphal, June 12: This year, on the occassion of International Yoga Day on June 21, the yoga enthusiasts in Manipur announced to boycott the the celebrations on June 21 and instead mourn for the victims of the ethnic clashes on the day.

All Manipur Yoga Fraternity Union (AMYFU), Imphal on Sunday organised a silent sit-in protest demanding the restoration of peace in the state.

While speaking to the media, the Vice-president of Bharat Swabhiman Trust, Th Rajen said, “Yoga enthusiasts from various organisations joined the sit-in and announced that they will mourn the death of the victims of violence “from both sides”, instead of celebrating the day,”.

“The world will celebrate the International Day of Yoga, but we will observe ‘shok’ in Manipur for those victims from both sides who have died, been injured or are undergoing treatment. We, the yoga practitioners and also those who love yoga, will gather at one place to observe ‘shok’ on that day,” Rajen stated.

After the violence boke in Manipur on May 3, so far over 50,650 men, women and children are displaced and are taking shelter in 350 camps.

In the violence, over 100 people lost their lives and around 310 others were injured in Manipur since May 3.