Kuki militant under NIA lens; sit-ins flay bid to nab VVs
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, December 01 2024:
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has reportedly filed a chargesheet against Luminsei Kipgen, a 35-year-old Kuki militant from Mamong village in Churachandpur district, in connection with the horrific killing in Ningthoukhong Kha Khunou in Manipur.
On January 18, 2024, a group of Kuki militants, including Kipgen, allegedly brutally murdered four innocent civilians near a water treatment plant in Ningthoukhong Kha Khunou.
The victims were identified as Oinam Bamonjao, his son Oinam Manitomba, Thiyam Somendro, and Ningthoujam Nabadeep, all members of the Meetei community.
According to a report of NE Now News, the NIA investigation revealed that Kipgen, a member of the Kuki National Army (KNA), Kuki National Front (KNF), and United Kuki National Liberation Front (UKNA), was involved in the attack on the Churachandpur DC and SP offices before fleeing to Guwahati for medical treatment.
He was subsequently arrested by Assam Police on March 20, 2023 .
The chargesheet, filed on Friday, details the involvement of multiple Kuki militant groups in the killing and accuses Kipgen of various offenses under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Arms Act.
Meanwhile, sit-in protest was staged at Bishnupur Bazar on Sunday denouncing the sinister plot of central and state governments to arrest Meetei village volunteers by using the NIA.
Speaking to media persons on the sidelines of the sit-in participated by meira paibi groups and organisations, one O Bina Devi asserted that mothers will not accept any attempt by the NIA to arrest the village volunteers.
She also contended that re-imposition of AFSPA, 1958 in the valley areas and deployment of additional central forces is part of ploy to obliterate the Meetei community.
Bina maintained that as many youths sacrificed their future to become village volunteers to protect land and people, their arrest, if any, is not justifiable.
Meanwhile, protest was organised by Meitei Community Joint Co-ordinating Committee, a joint body of 18 clubs in Thoubal district, at Babu Bazar on Saturday evening against attempt to arrest/detention of Ws in any issue.
The protestors chanted slogans like 'VVs should not be arrested/ detained', 'Withdraw cased filed against AT leader by NIA', 'Find Kamalbabu who went missing from Leimakhong Army Camp at the earliest' and 'Revoke re-imposition of AFSPA in six areas' .
Speaking to media persons, Committee's Women Wing spokesperson S Anita declared that they will oppose tooth and nail any move to arrest VVs .
Decrying filing of cases by NIA to arrest AT leaders, she demanded that the government withdraw all cases hied against the leaders.
Anita insisted that if the AR leaders are to be arrested then there is no valid reason for the NIA to condone activities of the Committee.
She further demanded that AFSPA, which has been re-imposed in areas under six police station, be withdrawn and the government hnd missing Kamalbabu at the earliest to avert launch of intense agitation.
Meanwhile, 13 Meira Paibi groups of Heingang area demanded that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) withdraw the charges levelled against leaders of Aramba Tenggol, a Meetei socio-cultural organisation.
Briefing the media at Ibudhou Marjing Haraobung, Heingang Mayai Leikai on Sunday, Heingang Apunba Meira Paibi representative Meitankeishangbam Subhasini reminded that when armed Kukis started attacking innocent Meetei civilians on May 3 last year and the government failed to protect the people, it was the AT members and village volunteers who took up the responsibility of saving and protecting the people.
The AT members and the village volunteers never attacked any community but attempted to protect the life, property and liberty of the people.
As such, any charge against the AT members and leaders will not be accepted, she stated and demanded withdrawal of all charges levelled against the AT leaders.
She then raised concern over the disappearance of a supervisor from inside the campus of 57th Mountain Division, Leimakhong and asked the GOC to produce him safely.
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