Chalwa villager shot dead, mob storms AR post, torches vehicles
Source: The Sangai Express

Kangpokpi, June 05 2021: Violation of human rights by armed forces in Manipur resurfaced after the post commander of 44 Assam Rifles E Coy, Gelnel village (Banglabung) outpost allegedly committed a gruesome murder at Chalwa village last night.

One Mangboilal Lhouvum (29), s/o Sehlam Lhouvum of Chalwa village in T Waichong Sub Division in Kangpokpi district was allegedly shot dead by the AR unit's post commander Major Alok Sathe on Friday night.

An enraged mob of men and women of Twilang area stormed the 44 AR outpost and torched a Maruti Gypsy vehicle and a 407 Tata truck belonging to the Assam Rifles.

Later in the morning, two AK Rifles of the Assam Rifles were reported found inside the torched Gypsy vehicle.

Following the killing and subsequent angry protest, Major Alok Sathe has been taken into custody by Kangpokpi Police.

Speaking to media persons, the victim father's Sehlam Lhouvum alleged that Major Alok Sathe with rifleman Amar and two others in civil dress carrying services weapons came in a civil vehicle and carried out an operation in Chalwa village around 9 pm on Friday.

His son Mangboilal Lhouvum was first given alcohol and then whisked off to the roadside before opening fired at him.

The victim's father added that his son was carried to PHC T Waichong village in critical condition but the doctor there had to refer him to District Hospital, Kangpokpi since there was no proper medical facility at the PHC.

Despite all efforts on the part of the medical department, Mangboilal succumbed to his injuries near Chawangkining village on the way to Kangpokpi, Sehlam recounted.

The deceased is survived by his wife Neikhochong Lhouvum and four children.

He was the sole bread earner of the family and he was working as a helper of one Shaktiman driver.

His father further alleged that the Major of 44 AR E Coy roamed freely in civil dress with his service weapon and collected information for his own benefits for a month.

It may be mentioned that the 44 AR E Coy outpost is located about 48km from Kangpok- pi district headquarters while Chalwa village is located about 55km away from the district headquarters.

The distance between 44 AR E Coy outpost at Gelnel village (Banglabung) and Chalwa village is around 10km.The deceased's wife Neikhochong told media persons at Kangpokpi that she and her husband went for jhum work during the day time and returned in the afternoon.

After having food her husband went to a neighbour's house.

Gunshot was heard in the village and after few minutes, she was informed that her husband was lying grievously injured on the roadside and she rushed to the spot only to find him in such a critical condition.

The young mother also said that her husband had no connection with any militant outfit.

He was the sole bread earner of the family.

The Assam Rifles had snatched him away making her a widow and her children orphaned, she lamented.

She also narrated that while taking her injured husband to Kangpokpi, the AR personnel at Thonglang AR Check Post detained them for almost half an hour despite knowing the emergency situation, adding that had they not been detained they would have reached the district hospital with her husband alive.

She pleaded for justice in the alleged gruesome murder of her husband at the earliest.

The civil society organisations of Kangpokpi district under the aegis of Kuki Inpi rushed to the spot and took stock of the situation.

However, tension erupted once again after the civil police allegedly refused to arrest the alleged murderer of Mangboilal.

Thangminlen Kipgen, general secretary Kuki Inpi Kangpokpi, said that the AR high authority claimed that the accused Major cannot be arrested as the state is under AFSPA and he is a central government employee apart from being an army officer, but the fact is that Major Alok Sathe is a murderer who went to the place in civil dress with his four men on his personal work, not on duty, brandishing their service weapons and snatched away an innocent life, a father of four children.

Thangminlen continued that an army officer in civil clothes out on a mission in a civil vehicle appeared be a premeditated act and "we firmly believe that the murder of Mangboilal Lhouvum is also premeditated".

"Major Alok shot me" was the last words of Mangboilal before succumbing to his injuries," asserted Thangminlen Kipgen, adding that after the firing, the victim was alive for another 3/4 hours but unfortunately he passed away.

"It was the deceased's personal testimony virtually recorded that he was shot at by Major Alok of 44 AR Gelnel Banglabung outpost", he added.

In a viral video, the deceased speaking in a local dialect said that he was shot by Banglabung outpost commander Major Alok after treating him with alcohol.

After a heated confrontation between the security forces and the civil society organisations, Kangpokpi police led by the additional SP (Ops) and the OC of Chalwa Police Station took the AR Major into their custody and brought him to Kangpokpi Police Station.

The body of Mangboilal Lhouvum was deposited at RIMS Morgue for post mortem by Kangpokpi police.

However, the CSOs decided not to claim the body until the issue is solved amicably.

Another source informed that following news of the alleged killing of a civilian, the local MLA N Kayisii rushed to the village to take stock of the situation and held meeting with the locals.

In the meeting with the local MLA, the local CSOs demanded justice and appropriate action against the culprit while the local MLA assured that he will do whatever possible to deliver justice to the victim.

In connection with the incident, Chief Minister N Biren Singh through the local MLA assured of giving befitting punishment to the wrongdoer and extend all possible help to the bereaved family.

Meanwhile, condemnation poured in from various quarters over the alleged gruesome murder committed by the Assam Rifles.

Kuki Inpi Manipur condemned the killing of an innocent civilian in the strongest term and said that it shared pain and grief of the bereaved family.

KIM also urged the authority concerned to take appropriate action against the culprit and deliver justice without delay to the victim's family.

Thadou Students' Association Sadar Hills expressed strong resentment and condemnation over the alleged senseless murder of an innocent civilian and conveyed its readiness to support any movement for delivering justice to the victim's family.

The local bodies of Kangpokpi town also expressed strong condemnation over the killing of Mangboilal Lhouvum and demanded befitting action against the culprit.

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