Imphal, December 26 2009: Asserting that the two persons lynched at Nongbrang village on December 22 were innocent Kuki students, the ATSUM, KSO and ANSAM vehemently condemned the murder in addition to decrying alleged false report broadcast in a local cable news channel.

A joint statement of the tribal organisations issued on December 24 identifying the victims as Paosat Kipgen (25) of Bongbal Khullen and Paolenlal Chongloi (25) of Keithelmanbi military colony as students who had been studying in shillong for the last 15 years, also slammed the television channel's report that the two victims were militants, as one-sided and highly condemnable.

Sharing investigation findings of the three bodies, the joint statement said Paosat and Paolenlal were heading to Bongbal Khullen in an auto rickshaw driven by a non-tribal.

While the Nongbrang villagers enforcing the bandh stopped the auto and seized the Kuki youngsters before being beaten to death the auto driver was let off due to his community, they contended with the assertion that the brutal action was carried out of communal enmity.

ATSUM, KSO and ANSAM also asked the State Government to pull up the culprits involved in the killing within December 31, take concrete steps to bring about an amicable solution and act accordingly so that prompt justice is delivered.