CCpur shutdown ends, bodies boycott CRPF
Source: Chronicle News Service / Kaimuanthang Mangte
CCpur, November 12 2024:
The 13-hour shutdown called by Kuki-Zo Council from 5 am Tuesday in protest against the killing of 11 Hmar village volunteers by CRPF on Monday in Jiribam ended without any incidents.
During the shutdown period, all vehicular movement ceased, businesses and markets remained closed, and educational institutions, both public and private, suspended operations.
The shutdown also affected government offices and both public and private banks.
Meanwhile, Zomi Students' Federation (ZSF), in a press release declared social boycott of the CRPF with immediate effect to condemn the killing of the 11 youths as an inhumane and treacherous act.
The ZSF noted its concerns regarding the perceived partiality of the CRPF, alleging that the force is operating under the influence of a 'communal state government' .
ZSF called for a thorough, impartial investigation, overseen by the court, into what they termed a 'fake encounter', and demanded the immediate transfer of Meetei personnel and officers within the CRPF to outside the state.
The Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO), General Headquarters, also issued a notice in response to the incident.
According to the notice, CRPF personnel will not be permitted to leave their camp premises.
The KSO stated that CRPF personnel found defying the restriction shall have to face the consequences.
The notice is effective immediately and will remain in place until the CRPF publicly acknowledges and apologises for their actions, maintained the KSO, while calling upon all its district and block branches to align with the public's sentiments and implement the directive, characterising its stance as part of a broader non-cooperation movement against the CRPF within Kuki-dominated areas.
The KSO also urged for public compliance until further notice.
The Hmar Students' Association (HSA), meanwhile, demanded a CBI investigation into the incident.
"We demand an immediate and unbiased CBI-led investigation into the murders in Jakhradawr and the attack on Zairawn.
The responsible parties must face the full force of justice," it said in a statement.
The HSA also sought immediate withdrawal of CRPF and Manipur Police forces from areas where Kuki-Zo communities live "until credible, neutral security measures are in place".
It also demanded the "deployment of neutral peacekeeping forces" to secure Hmar and other tribal areas, ensuring community safety and preventing further violence.
"The HSA GHQ implores the Indian government, human rights organisations, and allies worldwide to recognise these targeted actions against our community.
At a critical time when peaceful solution is sought after, we call for true justice, the protection of our people, and an end to the divisive violence threatening our future.
The HSA stands resolute in its pursuit of justice and will continue its fight to protect the rights and lives of Hmar people," the statement said.
The people killed in the gunfight were identified by the Kuki-Zo organisations as "village volunteers" belonging to the Hmar community.
Hmars are a part of the larger Kuki-Zo community.
In a statement, the Hmar Village Volunteers (HWs) said it was not in "conflict" with the central forces.
"At the same time the HWs strongly condemn the irresponsible actions of one Central Forces unit, which resulted in the loss of at least 11 precious lives of volunteers dedicated to protecting their ancestral lands and people.
We urgently call for the intervention of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, to assess the situation and deliver justice to the victims of this tragic incident," it said.
Countering the assertion that those killed were village volunteers, police said sophisticated firearms were seized from the spot after the gunfight, which showed that they were "armed militants or armed miscreants" .
Six people are still missing after the attack in Jiribam, and an operation is underway to trace them, police said.
(With inputs from PTI) .
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