Killing of two hunters at Kamjong sparks strong protest, rally staged at Ukhrul district
Hqs Ukhrul erupts in violence, DC's vehicle torched
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Ukhrul/Imphal, December 30 2012: Tension ran high at Ukhrul district today over the killing of two hunters at Kongkan village in Kamjong sub-division on December 28, with Ukhrul town erupting in violence in the evening.

Other than torching the vehicle of Deputy Commissioner R Sudhan, the officer was also briefly detained at the Tangkhul Naga Long ground.

The detention of the DC however could not be officially confirmed.

Among others, the demand raised include handing over of the killers to the people of Ukhrul as well handing over of the three persons who molested a young girl at Napetpalli on December 24 .

The air was thick with tension after the bodies of the two slain hunters arrived at Ukhrul district headquarters from Kamjong village in the morning today after covering a distance of 85 kilometres.

The bodies were transported by members of Tangkhul civil society organisations.

The two bodies were placed at TNL ground and the Naga civil society leaders attended the public meeting that was convened in this connection.

Even as a torch rally was being planned to be taken out in the evening, trouble broke out and the crowd which had gathered there soon turned into a mob.

The gathering at TNL ground and the vehicle of the DC in flames (NNN)

The Deputy Commissioner who came to the Tangkhul Naga Long ground to plead with the people to calm down was gheraoed by the mob and his vehicle, a Scorpio jeep, was burnt down.

Re-enforcement was rushed to the site, but the crowd was too big for the forces to control them.

At around 8 pm, things calmed down a bit and the mob dispersed themselves.

Later at around 8.30 pm, leaders of the Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong and Tangkhul Mayar Ngala Long leaders went back to the TNL ground to hold a meeting.

What conspired in the meeting is not known, till the time of filing this report.

However things were yet to return to normalcy, with apprehensions that the agitators were planning to torch the bungalow and the office of the DC hanging thick in the air.

To avert any such incidents, the IGAR (S) has instructed the Assam Rifles troops at Ukhrul to station themselves at the quarters and office of the DC.

The agitators were apparently not happy with the alleged apathy of the Government towards the incident.

They said that when any killing happens in the valley districts, the Government promptly addresses the matter by announcing some sort of assistance.

Two hunters namely K Kuma and K Ramshang were killed by the UNLF on December 28 afternoon in Ukhrul district.

Both hailed from Kongkan village.

Earlier in the morning today, the two bodies were transported from Kamjong to Ukhrul headquarters—the distance of 85 kilometres by the Tangkhul frontal organisations.

The two bodies were placed at TNL ground and the Naga civil society leaders attended the public meeting that was convened in this connection.

The United Naga Council, the Naga People's Front (NPF), the Naga Women Union (NWU), ANSAM, NPMHR besides, the frontal bodies of Tangkhul community participated in the meeting.

A joint memorandum was prepared to be submitted to the Prime Minister of India in this connection.

While speaking on the occasion, many leaders condemned the incident and termed it as barbaric.

The meeting chronicled how many tribal people have been killed and tortured by the valley based underground groups in Manipur.