Kuki rallies protest killing; memo glorifies AR
Source: Chronicle News Service
CCpur/Imphal, November 15 2024:
Thousands of men and women belong to the Kuki-Chin communities on Friday took part in protest rallies in Kuki-dominated districts to protest the killing of 10 'village volunteers' by security forces in Jiribam district on November 11 .
The protest rallies held in Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, Chandel, and Tengnoupal districts had people from all walks of life attending the march.
In Churachandpur, the march taken out in district headquarters and organised by Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights (KWOHR) started from Koite playground and culminated at the Wall of Remembrance near Tuibong peace ground.
During the rally, protesters held placards reading 'CRPF sides secessionist Meitei community', 'CRPF coward in uniform, serving the Nation or serving injustice 'CRPF answer us', 'Stand with Indians and not with secessionist community' .
During a meeting held at the Wall of Remembrance, KWOHR president Ngaineikim questioned the role of the CRPF in the ongoing conflict and added that CRPF personnel are supposed to protect civilians.
Later, a memorandum addressed to National Commission for Human Rights chairperson and Union home minister Amit Shah was submitted through Churachandpur additional DC Seiminthang Lenthang.
Addressing the gathering, Kuki Students' Organisation vice president Minlal stated that the slain individuals were not terrorists, but village volunteers trying to protect innocent villagers.
Wearing black dresses and holding banners and carrying placards written with "We want Justice", the participants shouted slogans against the CRPF and the Manipur police.
KWOHR president Ngaineikim Haokip and general secretary Kimneihoi Lhungdim in their letter to the NHRC and Amit Shah claimed that those responsible for such heinous acts should be held accountable and punished according to the law.
They said that the use of excessive force resulting in the loss of lives of village volunteers cannot be tolerated, and justice must be served to ensure such atrocities are not repeated in the future.
The rule of law must prevail, and those entrusted with the protection of citizens must be held to the highest standards of conduct, they said.
Demanding the replacement of CRPF personnel manning the buffer zones by the Assam Rifles "in order to prevent further bloodshed and to maintain relative calm and peace in the region", the KWOHR said that the Assam Rifles, with their expertise and experience in handling such volatile situations, are better equipped to handle the security challenges in the area.
By deploying the Assam Rifles in place of the CRPF, the authorities can ensure a more effective and efficient management of the buffer zones, thereby reducing the risk of violence and unrest, the letter stated.
Manipur Police said that in the November 11 encounter with the CRPF, 10 Kuki militants were killed and the militants also kidnapped 10 people, all residents of a relief camp at Jakuradhor in Jiribam district's Borobekra sub-division.
A police official said that during the search operations after the incident in Jakuradhor village, where several houses were also burnt down by the armed militants, two bodies of elderly civilians -- Maibam Kesho Singh, 75, and Laishram Barel, 61 -- were found.
He said that another person was found alive and rescued and another civilian came back on his own to the police station while the six people - three children and three women -- remained untraced so far.
Kuki Women's Union and Human Rights (KWU & HR), Tengnoupal district also organised a similar rally in the border town of Moreh against the killing of 10 Kuki-Zo volunteers in Jiribam.
The rally which started from Galngam Lentol, Moreh, was supported by Kuki Inpi Tengnoupal, Kuki Chiefs' Association-Tengnoupal district & Moreh Block, Hill Tribal Council, Moreh, Moreh Youth Club, Kuki Khanglai Lawmpi, Moreh block, Kuki Students' Organization Tengnoupal District & Moreh block.
The rally called for justice in the killing of Zosangkim Hmar and 10 Hmar/Kuki village volunteers.
People from Tengnoupal, Moreh and neighbouring villages took part in the rally wherein the participants held banners and slogans like 'We want justice', 'Respect human rights', and 'Action against the perpetrators'.
Meanwhile, the post-mortem examination of all 10 dead bodies was done at Silchar Medical College and Hospital on Wednesday.
A leader in Churachandpur said that though the post-mortem of all 10 bodies has been completed and despite the numerous requests, the government is refusing to release the bodies, leaving the grieving Hmar people unable to perform last rites for their loved ones.
"We urged the authorities to ensure the return of the dead bodies with dignity and allow families to perform the last rites," the leader said.
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