Key suspect behind ethnic cleansing at Moreh IDPs demand fitting punishment of accused
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 16 2024: The arrest of a key suspect in the murder case of former Moreh SDPO Chingtham Anandkumar has triggered widespread protests demanding exemplary punishments of accused, today.

The protests were held at Khwairamband Keithel, Singjamei and Sugnu among others .

Notably, accused Philip Khongsai was arrested from near ADC Moreh office yesterday along with another militant identified as Hemkholal Mate. While protesters at Sugnu demanded capital punishment, the womenfolk at Khwairamband Keithel listed a series of demands during the protest demonstrations.

The sit-in protest at Khwairamband Keithel was organised by Khwairamband Ima Keithel Joint Co-ordinating Committee (KIKJCC).

Key suspect behind ethnic cleansing at Moreh IDPs demand fitting punishment of accused

KIKJCC demanded that appropriate legal actions be taken up against the accused involved in the murder of a police officer on duty at Moreh.

They also demanded withdrawal of Assam Rifles from Moreh and deployment of more State forces at the border town.

KIKJCC convenor Laishram Mema lauded the Government and State forces for arresting the prime accused in the murder case of former Moreh SDPO Chingtham Anandkumar.

Claiming that Kuki women demanding release of Philip Khongsai and Hemkholal Mate is nothing but an endorsement of terrorism, Mema asserted that the duo shouldn't be released under any circumstances.

KIKJCC co-convenor Y Ibeyaima said that the arrest of Philip Khongsai and Hemkholal Mate would surely pave a way to restore normalcy at Moreh.

Saying that Kuki women creating a scene over the arrest of the key suspects in the murder case and demanding release of the Kuki narco-terrorists are against the interest of the indigenous people, Ibeyaima continued that they staged the sit-in to show their objection to the demand to release Philip Khongsai and Hemkholal Mate.

She said that they will launch an agitation unlike anything seen in Manipur if the murder accused are released due to the pressure of Kuki people and their MLAs.

Similar protest was also staged at Sugnu.

The protesters at Sugnu Keithel also demanded that legal actions should be taken up against Philip Khongsai and Hemkholal Mate for the serious crime they committed.

All shops and business establishments at Sugnu Keithel were closed during the demonstration which was attended by dozens of people.

Speaking to the media by the sideline, Sugnu Apunba Meira Paibi Lup secretary Aheibam Chanthoisana said that Kuki folks at Moreh demanding unconditional release of the persons who shot dead Ch Anandkumar is unacceptable.

Claiming that Kukis openly support criminals and the protest taken out by them against the arrest of Philip Khongsai and Hemkholal Mate is a clear example, she urged the Government to not release the duo under any circumstances.

Demanding that every Kuki terrorist involved in murder cases should be given capital punishment, Chanthoisana said that the Government must take responsibility for all eventualities if they release Philip Khongsai and Hemkholal Mate.

She also appealed to Chief Minister N Biren Singh to exercise his power to end the conflict.

At the sit-in at Singjamei Thongkhong, the protesters urged the Government to take up strong action against the duo arrested on the charge of murder and send a reinforcement team of State forces at Moreh to drive out the Kuki narco-terrorists and their associates.

The demonstration was organised by internally displaced people and they placards with inscriptions "Hang the culprits", "Modiji Moreh is a part of India", "Remove Kuki, Assam Rifles from Moreh KLP", "We want justice" and "Handover the culprits to NIA among others" .

On the sideline, Committee on Protection of Meitei Victims, Moreh Thoiba Ningthouja claimed that Philip Khongsai and Hemkholal Mate were the masterminds in launching attacks against Meeteis at Moreh.

Saying that much information about the violence at Moreh would surely come out if the duo is interrogated thoroughly, Thoiba urged the Government to identify all the people who planned and implemented the violent campaign against Meeteis at Moreh.