Survivor recounts assault, abduction by Kuki militants
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 28 2024: The brutal and tragic incident that took place in Jiribam on November 11, when over three dozens of Kuki militants attacked a village, killing two elderly villagers and abducting six members of a single family, sent shockwaves across the state recently.

The militants, who arrived in auto-rickshaws, opened fire indiscriminately, and set fire to several houses and shops, besides targeting relief camps, police station and CRPF camp that left 10 of them dead.

The violence left a trail of devastation, with two elderly victims, identified as Laishram Barel Singh (63) and Maibam Kesho Singh (71), burned alive in their homes, apart from the abduction of three children and three women, who were found dead later.

Telem Roshan, a class 6 student, and son of one of the victims, Telem Thoibi, survived the attack.

Recalling the heart breaking incident in a video that went viral on social media, Roshan described how, on the fateful day, he had been at home with his family when the militants arrived.

He had lost his mother, younger sister, grandmother, aunt and two cousins, who were taken hostage by the militants and later killed.

"On that day, I was staying with my family when the attack happened.

My mother had just returned after taking a bath.

We saw Kuki militants arriving in auto-rickshaws.

They started firing, and in panic, I hid under the bed.

The militants fired towards our house, and then two of them kicked open the door and called out for all to come out.

Four militants entered the house," young Roshan said.

"I was grabbed outside by one of them, who held me by the wrist and pointed a gun at me.

I managed to shrug off his grip, but they hit me on the chin with the rifle butt.

It caused some swelling, but it's healed now.

I ran as fast as I could, and they fired at me, but fortunately, I wasn't hit," he continued.

Roshan further said, "My mother and the others had no chance to escape.

They were taken at gunpoint.

I saw them being led away towards the Barak River.

CRPF chased after them in a Casspir, but by the time they reached the river, the militants had already crossed, and the CRPF couldn't pursue them any further" .

The militants abducted six people from the family, including women and children: Yurembam Rani Devi (60), Telem Thoibi Devi (31), Telem Thajamanbi Devi (8), Laishram Heitonbi Devi (25), Laishram Chingkheinganba Singh (2.5), and a 10-month-old infant, Laishram Langamba Singh.

In the days following the incident, the decomposed bodies of the kidnapped individuals were found, showing signs of severe violence.

Post-mortem reports revealed multiple gunshot injuries, stab wounds, and blunt force trauma.

The bodies had fractured skulls, missing eyes, and deep lacerations across the chest, face, and arms.

On November 12, police discovered the bodies of two Meetei elder men, one completely charred and the other partially burnt.

An autopsy report revealed that Maibam Kesho had soot (fine carbon) particles in his trachea, which indicated that the victim had inhaled smoke and had thus been burnt alive.

The most harrowing discovery was the body of the 10-month Laishram Langamba, who was found with his head severed.

The child showed signs of severe physical abuse, including bruises on the face and chest, lacerations on the jaw, chop wounds on the chest and sternum and bullet wounds.

His post-mortem report indicated that he had endured inhuman torture.

Following huge public uproar, the state government transferred the case to National Investigation Agency (NIA) along with two other cases.

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