Former village chief of Thayong shot dead
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 26 2009: Former Khullakpa (village chief) of Thayong was shot dead by unidentified armed persons suspected to be cadres of a Kuki UG group which is a signatory of Suspension of Operation (SoO) with the Centre and the State Government at the gate of his own house and in front of his wife last night.

According to police report, two unidentified armed youths dragged out L Rejamkhup Kom alias Akhup from his house and shot him dead at the gate.

The incident occurred at around 11.30 pm yesterday.

There were fatal bullet marks on his head.

The victim was the former Khullakpa of Thayong Khunou, located 10 kms to the south-west of Lamlai Police Station under Lamlai Assembly Constituency in Imphal East district but falling within the jurisdiction of the revenue district of Senapati.

A protest rally taken out to condemn the killing of Rejamkhup Kom

He was also working as an Assistant Teacher in UJB School of the village when he was killed.

Recounting the incident, wife of Rejamkhup, Thangnei alias Sana Kom (40) said that the two armed persons who spoke in Kuki dialect and one of whom identified himself a younger brother of Lulun, late KLA leader, knocked at the door and asked for Akhup.

Both the armed youths were in plain uniform and covered with faces.

At the first knock, the family members replied that Akhup was not at home and told the visitors to talk in Meiteilon as they do not understand Kuki dialect.

But the visitors demanded to know why they should not they understand Kuki dialect being themselves Kom people and intensified the banging on the door and tried to break it down.

As soon as the door was opened, one of the armed youths went straight inside the house and dragged out Akhup saying that they should go to the house of the present Khullakpa M Neikhup for some talks.

When Sailam, younger sister of Akhup suggested that all of them should go together, the armed intruders threaten to shoot down anyone daring to come out.

Still, Sana Kom and Sailam followed them little farther behind.

But before anything could be said they saw, through the light beam of the torchlight, armed youths opening fire towards Akhup.

When Akhup fell down on the ground, the armed youths opened fire once again before fleeing towards the paddy field.

At that time, gun shots were also heard from some other direction.

By the time Sana Kom reached the spot where her husband was lying, his lifeless body was lying in a pool of blood.

Sana Kom further informed that her family has not received any threat or monetary demand from any UG group.

Meanwhile, submitting a memorandum to the Chief Minister jointly, Komrem Union, Manipur and Joint Action Committee formed against the brutal killing, have contended that the killing was the fallout of objection to the pursuit of forcing Komrem people to merge with Kuki tribe.

Before submitting the memorandum, a large number of Komrem people took out a silent protest march from the mortuary of RIMS.

However, they were stopped by the police from proceeding further at Uripok Bachaspati Leikai.

The memorandum stated that Komrem people residing in different parts of Manipur are being subjected to harassment and intimidation in many ways by Kuki militants who are signatory to SoO and the latest incident is the killing of Rejamkhup Kom last night.

Preceding to this incident, another former chief of Thayong K Athang Kom was abducted for ransom in July 2008 by Kuki militants operating in and around Nongmaijing area.

He was inhumanely tortured both physically and mentally and was released only after the militants managed to get the ransom amount.

Moreover, Komrem people of Nongmaijing area are being forced to pay many taxes including deduction of certain percentage from the developmental funds provided by the Government.

The most painful incident, however, is the forcing of Komrem Village chiefs of Nongmaijing area to join Phailengmol Area Chief Association, which is an Association of Kuki chiefs, in their pursuit of forcing Komrem people of Nongmaijing area in particular and all the Komrem community in general to merge/join Kuki tribe.

This has been objected by the Komrem people and the present killing may be the fallout of this objection, the memorandum observed.

The memorandum has also demanded opening of a security post at Thayong village, payment of Rs 10 lakhs ex-gratia to the bereaved family, appointment of one of the dependants to a suitable Government post under die-in-harness scheme and booking of the killers for giving befitting punishment within a week.

It has also made it clear that the body of the victim which is lying in the mortuary of RIMS would not be claimed until all these demands are fulfilled.

Condemning the killing, Health Minister Ph Parijat, who came to express condolences to the bereaved family members at the mortuary of RIMS today, described the incident of killing the former village chief in front of his own wife as inhuman and barbaric.

General secretary of Komrem Union, Manipur Boyesh Kom has stated that Komrem does not belong to either Naga or Kuki, but has its own distinct identity.

Komrem people are for communal harmony among all the communities and are strongly against suppression of the minority group by any major community.

He also appealed to the Government should pay attention and the civil organisations to extend their support in this regard.