UNC shutdown derails normal life, many condemn killing
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 17 2023: Normal life in all the Naga-dominated hill districts came to a grinding halt as the UNC-called 12-hour total shutdown was imposed on Monday to protest the brutal killing of Naga woman Lucy Marem (57), whose lifeless body was found in an Imphal East district village on Saturday.

In Ukhrul and Kamjong districts, the shutdown was called in response to the call ofHhe United Naga Council (UNC) for a blanket shutdown in all Na-ga-inhabited areas of the state.

In both the districts, Tangkhul Frontal Organisations (TFOs) enforced the shutdown, which began from 6 am and ended at 6 pm Monday.

The shutdown saw a massive response from the people of the two districts.

All shops, markets and other establishments in the two districts remained closed during the 12-hour period.

The main town roads wore deserted look.

Public transport was also affected, with no passenger vehicles running.

Educational institutions and banks were also shut down.

However, some hospitals, medical stores and other essential services remained open.

However, no untoward incidents were reported from the two districts during the shutdown.

Our Senapati correspon dent reported that total the shutdown called by UNC ended peacefully in Senapati district without any untoward incident.

All business establishments and transportations came to a standstill due to the total shutdown.

Addressing the media at Senapati bazar, UNC infor mation & publicity secretary James Hau stated that the shutdown was by and large peaceful in all Naga hill districts including Ukhrul, Chandel, Tamenglong and Senapati.

The shutdown was called in protest against the brutal murder of a Maring Naga woman.

The UNC has placed three points demand and in the event of not fulfilling the demands within 48 hours, intense forms of democratic agitations will be followed, he added.

According to our correspondent, the total shutdown affected normal life in Noney and Tamenglong districts with schools, colleges, banks, markets and business establishments closed vehic- ular movement along NH 37 (Imphal-Jiribam) road, Bishnupur - Khoupum - Rengpang road, Tamenglong-Khongshang road and IT road coming to a grinding halt.

Rongmei and Chiru communities living in Loktak Project and Bishnupur area also supported the shutdown by blocking all connecting roads in their respective areas.

The shutdown also affect- .

ed normal life in Chandel and Tengnoupal districts as large numbers of people enforced the agitation by blocking road at several places in the two districts.

Large number of people belonging to Maring community came out to the streets and en forced the shutdown at many places in both districts.

Maring villagers of Mi-nou, Salemphai, Nungourok, Yongkhun, Beauluhram, Khu-kandang, Tuisimi, Teraphai; Phungthil, Maringphai, Khu-karthil, Kangoi, Liwa Maring, Dulenbung, Keinemjou, Thei-munkung, Meipou, Kangsang, Phunal Sambum, Leibi, Tui nem.

Island, Saibol, Laiching Khuman, Langol, Khunbi, Phunchong, Kambang Khullen, Koijam and Pallel bazar came out and staged protest near Pallel-bridge thereby blocking Imphal-Moreh road for the day.

Similar protests were also staged by Moyon, Tarao, Aimol, Lamkang, Cho-the people at Thamlakhuren village along Pallel-Chandel road while people belonging to Anal, Maring, Lamkang, Moyon, Monsang, Tangkhul, Kom, Chothe, Khoibu, Rongmei and Tarao communities staged protest at DC Lamkhai near Chandel district headquarter.

Anal Sinnu Ruwl also organised similar protest at Chandel bazar while Aimol Tribe Union, Aimol Student's Union Manipur and Aimol Numei Waar also staged such protest along Pallel-Aimol road.

Khangshim Village Women Wing also staged protest at Kakching Lamkhai Khangshim village.

On the other hand, people belonging to Nagas and Meetei communities staged protest at Pallel and Kakching during which all business establishments downed shutters for the day.

Meanwhile, Maring apex body Maring Uparup Assembly (MUA) president president K Yaima Maring has thanked Naga people of lengnoupal and Chandel districts as well as Meetei people of Kakching and Pallel for organising protest demonstration against the killing of Lucy Marem.

Khongjom Circle Co-Ordination Committee and Khongjom Bazar Meira Paibi also staged sit-in-protest against the brutal murder of Lucy Mafem at Khongjom bazar.

Meanwhile, All Naga Students' Association Manipur (ANSAM) strongly condemned the brutal murder of Lucy Marem and termed the incident as an excruciating moment for the Nagas as the silence and neutralstand in the unremitting conflict just to restore eace and normalcy in the state ave been construed as feeble.

It is just not fair for the Nagas to be enduring the agony of series of attack and gruesome killing in the current conflict .

between the two warring ethnic communities, ANSAM said in a statement.

The statement further said that Naga people will not remain as a mute observer but initiate own course of actiorf if the government fails to constitute judicial inquiry, arrest perpetrators of the crime (including Meira Paibis) and exemplary punishment given to the culprits.

It also said that the cold blooded killing of Lucy Marem must be brought in the limelight of justice befittingly as per the Naga customary law and the Meetei CSOs shall be equally held responsible for the despicable act and hence their role and position must be made known to all concerned.

The Zeliangrong Students' Union, Delhi also strongly condemned the cold blooded mur der of Lucy Marem and called upon civil society organisation and authority concerned to step forward in bringing normalcy in the state.

Denouncing the murder of Lucy Marem, the Naga Women's Union said she (Lucy) was an active member of Maring Na-puiya Yinglam (Maring Women's Union), a constituent unit of the union.

According to NWU president Asha Wungnam, the union will not tolerate nor forget such barbaric action committed upon the Nagas.

She said that authority concern or group involved in the killing must ensure that justice is done to the innocent soul within short notice.

Sirti Upa Ruh (Monsang Tribe Union) and Naga Chiefs Association Chandel also condemned the killing of Lucy Marem and demanded justice.

Meanwhile, Heirok Apunba Clubs organised condolence meet against the killing of Lucy Marem at City Club, Heirok ground while Thoubal Apunba Lup (TAL), Committee for Peace and Social Harmony, Kakching and All Wangling Lamding Kairembikhok Club Organisation (AWALAKACO) condemned the killing and conducted condolence sendees in memory of the deceased Maring woman.

Wrhile condemning the murder of Lucy, World Meeter Council said that the Maring woman had nothing to do with the present conflict and also urged police and law enforcing machineries to book the culprits and punish them as per law.

Meanwhile, Apunba Lup Ningthoukhong advisor Khwairakpam Somorendro said that the Lup supports the movement being initiated by UNC against the killing of Lucy Marem and demanded that all the culprits involved in the killing must be While strongly denouncing the abduction and brutal killing of Lucy Marem at Keibi Heikak Mapal on July 15, many de manded stringent punishment to the culprits committing the heinous crime.

In separate releases, United NGOs Mission Manipur, Struggling Women's Association, Khurai Puthiba & Nandeibam Leikai Ema Lup, Young Sports Union cum Library, Khwairam-band Leimarel Sidabi Ima Kei thel Lukmai Sellup, All Manipur Nupi Marup, Haoreibi Apunba Lup, Zeliangrong Students' Union Delhi, Naga Women's Union, Kabui Union, Manipur, Forum for Restoration of Peace, Zeliangrong Union Manipur (Assam, Manipur & Nagaland) and its frontal organisations and Peace and Development Co-ordinating Committee, Top Khongnangmakhong Mamang Leikai Women Development Committee, Indigenous Development Mission condemned the killing of Lucy Marem and further stated that killing of-defenceless woman is an act of cowardice.

They exhorted to both the state and central governments and all stakeholders concerned to protect and respect the human rights of all unarmed civilians and further urged state government to check and monitor the civilians who are married to different ethnic community and taking shelter in different places and save the innocent women and children from any untoward incident.

While regretting that 15 years old daughter of late Lucy is now rendered an orphan, they urged government to help her and look into her academic career.

The organisations also vehemently condemned the act of those cowards who committed the crime in the name of a particular community.

All right thinking individual, MLAs and CSOs of all communities should condemn such inhumane act.

they said.

Denouncing the murder of Lucy, Khwai Lalambang Nupi Committee (KLLNC) staged sit in protest at Lalambung Mak-hong RIMS Road.

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