TSA refutes Hill Tribal Council, Moreh media statement regarding July 13 attack

28th August, 2018

The Thadou Students’ Association (TSA) would like to advise the Hill Tribal Council (HTC), Moreh not to try and obstruct the process of justice over the July 13 Moreh incident of shooting and bombing of innocent children and civilians, including the president of TSA Moreh Block, Thongminglun Haokip, his pregnant wife and their two children below the age of five years by heavily armed cadres of the Kuki National Organisation/Kuki national Army (KNO/KNA).

We also strongly condemn the president of HTC, Ginkhosei Lhungdim, for threatening TSA leaders(s) over phone to withdraw the Public Interest Litigation (PIL). TSA has already lodged with the Manipur High Court on August 16, 2018 in connection with the July 13 Moreh attack. If Ginsei or any other persons or groups threaten any of the TSA leaders again, TSA will no longer hesitate to file an FIR or take them to Court.

The media release of HTC, Moreh that appeared in various newspapers on August 28, 2018 in connection with the July 13 Moreh attack was nothing but merely a desperate attempt to cover up the evil and criminal act of the KNO/KNA and to mislead the public and the Court. TSA has previously clarified through the media that the attack was an unprovoked firing and bombing by the KNO/KNA to murder innocent children and civilians and that it was not a gun fight between two armed groups.

TSA has also previously clarified through the media on July 30 that TSA’s demands for justice in the July 13 Moreh terror attack have nothing to do with the relation between two underground groups, the UKLF and KNA, and that neither TSA nor Thingminlun had no knowledge nor involvement in the peace commission or peace banquet at Moreh on July 23 between the two groups. If HTC negates this then it should come out with proper evidence instead of making baseless and false propaganda to downplay the seriousness of the terror attack and to hide the truth.

What we want is arrest of the culprits and the masterminds of the July 13 terror attack and speedy delivery of justice in the incident. We want nothing more, nothing less. We will not compromise on this and we will not rest until all those involved in this heinous crime are arrested and justice is delivered.

Before taking the matter to Court, we have approached our state chief minister and police officers for appropriate actions against the perpetrators but all ended in mere assurances without any action. As a last resort in our efforts to achieve justice, TSA decided to take the matter to the Court and accordingly filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) at Manipur High Court on August 16, 2018.

We no longer have confidence in State police to bring justice in the incident and therefore we prayed to the Court that the case be handed over either to National Investigation Agency or Central Bureau of Investigation to ensure the case is investigated in the most free and unbiased manner and justice is delivered in a timely and effective manner.

As the supreme commander of KNO/KNA, which has claimed responsibility for the attack, PS Haokip, the president of KNO has been included as one of the respondents in the PIL writ petition along with his associates, including Thahpi Haokip alias Thangboi alias Thahpi, Moreh commander of KNO/KNA and the alleged leader of the attack team in the July 13 Moreh terror attack.

In view of the continued undue interference from certain organisations like HTC apparently at the behest of KNO/KNA to obstruct the process of justice through pressure and intimidation tactics to stop TSA from pursuing justice, KNO/KNA needs to be removed from Moreh to ensure free and fair investigations into the case.

We appeal to HTC and other organisations or individuals to stop interfering unduly in this matter, but allow the law to take its due course of action to bring speedy justice in the case in public interest.

Sd/-
(Kamsanglen Singsit)
Secretary Information & Publicity
Thadou Students' Association