Tension grips Kangpokpi
Source: The Sangai Express

Kangpokpi, November 09 2023: Tension ran high in Kuki dominated Kangpokpi district as intense mass movement resurfaced once again creating an atmosphere resembling the situation of the initial stage of the violence that erupted on May 3 .

The situation in Kangpokpi was already tense after some wedding party goers from Churachandpur were allegedly abducted on their way towards Kangpokpi side at Kangchup Chingkhong area on November 7 morning and two Kuki-Zo persons were arrested by police in connection with the missing two Meitei boys on November 5 .

Enraged mobs at Kangpokpi protested in front of SP Kangpokpi's office yesterday afternoon as there was no outcome to the CoTU's 24-hour ultimatum served to the authorities concerned to rescue and bring back the abducted Kuki-Zo wedding party goers safe and sound, and release the two arrested Kuki-Zo men.

Hundreds of Kuki-Zo people across the district in more than five locations along the NH-2 began mass demonstrations on November 8 evening.

Though there was no disruption to the highway traffic, checking and frisking of vehicles was intensified along the highway.

Today, at around 4.30 pm, the Kuki-Zo people across Kangpokpi district congregated at Brig M Thomas ground at Kangpokpi town and carried out a mass rally against the alleged illegal detention of two innocent Kuki-Zo men at Senapati police station and the abduction/kidnapping of four Kuki-Zo people.

The rallyists held a protest in front of the SP office.

Five Kuki-Zo people from Churachandpur's Bolkot village travelling to Kangpokpi's L Phaijang village on November 7 to perform nuptial ceremony were waylaid and allegedly abducted by unidentified people and it is suspected that two of them have been killed.

A 65-year-old Manglun Haokip, father of an Indian army soldier, who was one among the five individuals, had a narrow escape with critical injury as the Assam Rifles managed to rescue him.

He was later airlifted to a neighbouring State and is under medical treatment in a critical condition.

The four others, two male and two female, namely, Nengkim (60), wife of the rescued individual Manglun Haokip, Neilam Haokip (55), wife of Ginkhai Haokip, John Thangjalam Haokip (25), son of T Paoboi and Jamkhothang Lhanghal (40), son of Semkhohao Lhanghal were allegedly abducted.

However, there is no report of any arrest in connection with the incident till the filing of this report.

Meanwhile, two individuals from the Kuki-Zo community were reportedly arrested by security forces in connection with the missing case of two Meitei boys on November 5 .

The police claimed the duo to be cadres of KRA (U) under Suspension of Operations with the Government.

They were reportedly remanded in police custody till November 17 .

However, the Kuki-Zo people strongly refuted the police allegation and claimed the duo as innocent civilians, and demanded their immediate release.

After meeting the SP Kangpokpi, one of the Kuki-Zo womenfolk said, "We had put up our demand to the SP Kangpokpi and also aired our disappointment over various issues with the enforcement of law and order, and administration with regard to dealing with the Kuki-Zo people" .

"As the public movement has begun, we would no longer tolerate any ill-treatment and step-motherly treatment towards the Kuki-Zo people", she said.

She then said that the two Kuki-Zo men detained by Manipur police must be released without condition at the earliest.

She also said that the dead bodies of the four Kuki-Zo people brutally murdered must be handed over within 24 hours to their respective families.

Meanwhile, the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), Sadar Hills Kangpokpi district imposed public agitation in all Kuki-Zo-dominated areas in connection with the arrest of two Kuki-Zo individuals and the brutal murder of the four Kuki-Zo people.

Meanwhile, the Kuki Inpi Manipur has demanded the Central Government, particularly the Ministry of Home Affairs to initiate stringent action measures to nab the culprits involved in the alleged abduction of the five Kuki-Zo people.

The Kuki Inpi Manipur also expressed its deep concern over the alleged sluggish approach of the law enforcing agencies against the demands of the Kuki-Zo civil societies for the safety of the abducted individuals.

Haokip further said that the concerned authorities must comparably take stringent and immediate action against the gruesome murder of the two individuals and the forceful abduction and detention of the other two.

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