Condemns brutal act at Lilong Chingjao
- 02nd January 2024 : Delhi Association of Manipur Muslim Students -

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DAMMS strongly condemns the brutal act of terrorism at Lilong Chingjao in which, 4 civilians were murdered and 14 more were injured. The incessant firings at the general public by some armed-cadres of a Militant Group in the evening of January 01, 2024 re-affirms the acute lawlessness in the state of Manipur, with armed militants freely roaming around and engaging in acts of extortions.

The unfortunate incident at Lilong Chingjao, while results from such lawlessness, also at the same time is possible of creating spaces for division between co-existing communities amidst the rising concerns of the prolonged Meitei-Kuki Conflicts since May 03, 2023.

All stakeholders are, therefore, required taking up necessary steps to collectively resolve the issue at hand without any bias. The government requires building the required trust for the public through fast-track enquiry and timely delivery of justice.

DAMMS is of the consensus that, we, the Pangals have always been at the receiving end of stereotyped-killings over the years from certain sections of the majority community in our state. We have had many incidents in the past, and the current acts has also been painted to suit such stereotyped-narratives aimed at the Pangals.

With the failure of government machinery, repeated killings of innocent public, and then justifying the acts as ‘fight against social-evils’ in the name of ‘drug-sellers’ and ‘thieves’ have become the norms for some people’s deliberate acts of terrorism against the Pangals.

Killings of innocents at Lilong Chingjao is part of the continued process resulted from such state’s failure. Manipur has been turned into a ‘wild-jungle’ with armed militants acting as the ‘State’ at will, threatening the lives and security of every common people.

At this juncture, the people are required to understand the narratives of propagandas being spread in the social-media platforms, with the government immediately tackling, in accordance with the law, the sections of people trying to create disharmony and more violence between the co-existing communities.

DAMMS urges the people to not turn the unfortunate event into a narrative of ‘Inter-Community’ conflict. The incident has been a result of some self-interested individuals and not an act of a community against another community. We will be required to democratically handle the incident with maturity by pressurising the government to immediately punish the murderers giving them the strongest possible punishments in accordance with the law.

The increasing unchecked armed activism in the state is alarming for peace and tranquility. Such a prevailing situation in our state creates questions on ‘who handles the law and order in our state- whether same has been handed over to some sections of the general public?’

The Government of Manipur requires reassuring the people of their safety and security on an urgent basis. Only with the state agencies’ commitments and unbiased measures, any such incident can be mitigated from happening in the future. The lives lost due to the state’s failure at Lilong Chingjao will not be coming back, but the state’s act will determine the justice that those lives deserve.

At the light of this, DAMMS strongly calls upon the government to have appropriate measures in place for swift delivery of justice. The DAMMS also requests the government to take-up measures for situational-establishment of an ‘Emergency Help-Centre’ for the people. The DAMMS also calls upon the government to hand-over the case of this unfortunate ‘mass-killing’ by armed militants at Lilong Chingjao to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

(DAMMS)
Delhi Association of Manipur Muslim Students