Kuki bodies condemn killing, appeal for release of captive
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, June 07 2024:
Several Kuki bodies have condemned the killing of Saratkumar by unknown miscreants on June 6 and appealed to authority concerned to book the culprits as soon as possible.
In separate releases, Kuki Inpi Jiribam, Tamenglong & Noney and Young Kuki condemned the killing of Saratkumar Singh by unknown miscreants.
Moreover, L Thianmuang (40) son of (L) Lualam of Dibong Khunou, Jiribam was rounded up and whisked away from his house around 6:30 pm Thursday by suspected armed Meeteis clad in black attires with his whereabouts remaining unknown till now.
They appealed for his safe release and also urged the authority concerned to locate him at the earliest possible to prevent further aggravation of the situation.
Blatantly blaming the Kuki Zo tribals for the murder of Saratkumar Singh without any evidence and thereby attacking Kuki Zo tribals solely indicate that some people are insistent on bringing upon the Manipur crisis to Jiribam area which had remained in peace till now, they observed, while appealing to authority concerned to be stringent against miscreants creating havoc in the area so that further escalation of violence may be prevented.
They equivocally condemned the cowardly attacks on civilians, whether they be Kukis or Meiteis.
However, they will not tolerate the indiscriminate blaming of the entire Kuki community for the death of a Meitei man, the releases added.
While maintaining that targeting Kukis for the death of a Meitei is unacceptable, they questioned why law enforcement agencies are not be allowed to do their job of investigating and arresting the culprits.
The principle of collective punishment has no place in a just society.
The perpetrators of the heinous acts must be brought to justice through due process of law, not through vigilante violence, the releases added.
They also appealed to the public, CSOs and community leaders particularly those of Kuki Zo and Meetei communities not to aggravate the situation but to stand for peace.
Meanwhile, Zomi Council, Headquarters in a release stated that the unprovoked aggression is a clear and convincing evidence that co-habitation with the Meitei community under one administration is intolerable, impractical and out of the question for the Zo ethnic communities.
It is imperative that the central government take cognizance of the socio-political reality and initiate tangible political measures to safeguard the fundamental human rights of the Zo peoples.
The Council condemned the act of aggression and called for swift and decisive action against the perpetrators, ensuring safe return of the missing person and safety of the displaced; and to bring about historical and political justice to the Zo ethnic communities for durable peace.