Govt assures judicial probe
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 18 2023: Even as the Government has reportedly assured to launch a judicial inquiry in the killing of Army Jawan Serto Thangthang Kom, a large number of people, mostly Kom tribes on Monday staged widespread demonstrations against the killing of its community member today.

Reportedly, the probe panel would be headed by an Inspector General of the State police The protest demonstrations, on the other hand, were held at Happy Valley in Thangmeiband, Litan, Sagang, Keirap Village, Sinam, Moirang, Khundrakpam etc.

Meanwhile, a team of Kom Union Manipur (KUM) led by its president Serto Ahao Kom met the Chief Minister and urged the latter to arrest the 'killers' at the earliest.

Speaking to the media after meeting the Chief Minister, Ahao Kom said that the killing of Thangthang Kom implies the insecurity of Kom people living in Manipur.

Continuing that the killing of the Army Jawan has created fresh fear and anxiety among the Kom people, the KUM president urged the Government to protect the Kom people at all times.

He said that Kom tribe is a peace loving people and has no enmity with anyone.

The Chief Minister has agreed to launch a judicial inquiry on the killing, provide Government job to the next of kin of the deceased Army Jawan, deploy adequate security personnel at villages inhabited by smaller tribes such as Kom, Chiru, Aimol, Koireng, said Ahao Kom.

Saying that the mortal remains of Serto Thangthang Kom will be claimed to perform the last rites, the KUM president prayed for peace to return in Manipur.

On the other hand, the sit-in protest held at Neikanlong, Happy Valley was participated by people of over 15 tribes from different places in Imphal West.

Some of the common placards which were used by the protesters at different places have inscriptions which read "Protect Kom people'', "We want justice", "Penalise the killers'', "Stop killing the innocent" and "Long live Kom tribe" among others.

At Litan, chief of Litan Kom Village M Amu Kom said that Thangthang Kom was born in Litan.

Saying that the killing of Thangthang Kom was very unfortunate, he appealed to the Government to book the killers at the earliest.

He also appealed to the people of Manipur to always protect the Kom people as the tribe is very small.

The Komrem Union, North East India (NEI) has also strongly condemned the killing of the Army jawan after being abducted from his residence at Tarung Happy Valley, Lamphel.

It may be noted that (L) Serto Thangthang Kom, s/o (L) Aphun of Litan village, Chandel district, was deployed as a Rifleman at the Defence Security Corps (DSC) Platoon in Leimakhong.

A statement issued by Serto Lalkomang Kom, president, Komrem Union also appealed to all concerned to refrain from communalizing the death of (L) Serto Thangthang Kom.

At this point, the Komrem Union NEI has reaffirmed its stand of the Kom people remaining neutral to both the warring parties.

It maintained that the Kom people will always try to sustain peaceful coexistence.

The Union has also demanded the authority concerned to deliver justice to the victim at the earliest as per the law of the land and for the killers to clarify their reason behind the killing.

Lastly, the Komrem Union offered prayers to the Almighty to give strength to the bereaved family.

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