Two Rongmei women assaulted, condemnations pour in
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 11 2023: Saying that six Naga individuals including two women have been assaulted in three separate incidents, the Forum for Restoration of Peace (FRP) has condemned these incidents in the strongest terms and demanded punishment of all the culprits as per law.

Speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club here today, FRP convenor Ashang Kasar said that six Naga individuals including two women were assaulted by some people including Meira Paibis in three separate incidents that took place in different parts of the valley between December 3 and December 10 .

On December 3, three Tangkhul youths from Ukhrul were assaulted by some Meira Paibis and suspected militants at Sawombung, Imphal West, Ashang Kasar said.

On December 8, two women from Laimanai (Thinpui) were assaulted by some people including Meira Paibis at a place in Bishnupur district.

Again on December 10, some unidentified Meitei men assaulted a taxi driver from Tamenglong for refusing to give a 'donation' of Rs 500 near Moidangpok, Imphal West district, he said.

The FRP which has been working hard to bring a reconciliation between the Kukis and Meiteis has taken serious note of these disturbing incidents, said the FRP convenor.

Notably, FRP has members belonging to different ethnic groups of Manipur.

These incidents, Ashang Kasar said, have all the potential to create misunderstanding among different communities which can lead to unwanted ramifications.

He then appealed to the valley people and valley CSOs to take serious note of these incidents and take up every possible measure so as to avoid such unwanted incidents in the future.

"Let us all work together to bring peace in the State", he said.

These unwanted incidents are outcomes of the Government's failure to maintain law and order in the State, he said.

Ashang Kasar also urged the Government to pull up and punish all the culprits involved in assaulting Naga individuals.

Meanwhile the Naga Peoples' Union, Imphal has written to Chief Minister N Biren Singh urging him to take immediate action against culprits involved in the incident.

Anna Dangmei, warden of Loyola School and her younger sister from Laimanai village were beaten by a group of women and certain people without any reason even after their credentials were thoroughly checked, said the Naga Peoples' Union in the letter to the Chief Minister.

The union also recalled another incident when three Tangkhul Naga youths of Ukhrul district were beaten at Sawombung, Imphal on December 3 .

Reportedly, the three men were on their way to Ukhrul from Imphal and their vehicle was stopped by womenfolk at Sawombung at around 8.30 pm.

After their identities were checked, some armed men whisked them away to another place in a vehicle and beat them.

They were released by the armed miscreants late in the night.

The next day on December 4, the three men filed a complaint with the Ukhrul police.

Strongly condemning the incident, the Naga Peoples' Union urged the Chief Minister to take immediate action against the culprits involved in the incidents.

The World Meetei Council (WMC) has also vehemently condemned the assault on the two Rongmei girls and the three Ukhrul men.

Tendering unconditional apology to those who had suffered physical injury, WMC said the separate incidents of assault on unarmed innocent women and men are condemned in the strongest terms.

"Such violence against innocent people who have nothing to do with our suffering is highly condemnable.

WMC condemns such thoughtless acts of violence without any condition," it said, appealing to all Meeteis to stop such acts of aggression and understand what they were doing.

"We appeal to our Meetei brothers and sisters to be very careful not to cause any harm to anyone in the name of verification/checking etc.

This is not helping us in any manner," WMC said.

The Zeliangrong Civil Organisations (ZCOs) including the Zeliangrong Youth Front have also urged the Government to take up immediate actions and measures to check such incidents in the future.

The severe physical assault frequently perpetrated upon the innocent citizens, whose tribes and communities are not part of the ongoing conflict between Meiteis and Kukis, is condemnable, said ZCOs.

The role of womenfolk is to take care of girls particularly when they are in a difficult and such unsafe situation.

However, the womenfolk in the case of the two Rongmei girls have failed, said the ZCOs.

The culprits involved in the assault on the two girls deserve severe punishment under the relevant provision of the law.

Similar incidents of physical assault and harassment have also happened in the past.

Two boys who hail from Tamenglong were harassed at Kakching district in the past.

Two other boys from Tamei areas were harassed at Sekmai, and some students along with their parents travelling to Imphal from Noney were harassed at Patsoi, said the ZCOs.

Considering the volatile nature of the situation, the Zeliangrong people in particular have been upholding its neutral position so far.

The State and the Central Government must control the prevailing situation in Manipur at the earliest.

The Government must take up measures to check such incidents in future, said the Zeliangrong Civil Organisations.

The Global Manipur Federation (GMF) has also strongly condemned the unruly apprehension, beating, moral policing, and the injustice meted out by a mob to two Rongmei women at Ningthoukhong, Bishnupur district on December 8, 2023 .

Two Rongmei girls from Thingpui (Laimanai) village and wardens of Loyola School, Bishnupur, were returning from school by auto-rickshaw.

Unfortunately, they were stopped by a few Meitei individuals at Shantipur village under Loktak Project police station, who then handed them over to Meira Paibis in Ningthoukhong.

The Meira Paibis later subjected the girls to mistreatment in a community hall located at Bishnupur Bazar.

After a prolonged ordeal, the Father of Loyola School, namely Father Robert and Father James, intervened and rescued the victims, said a press release issued by GMF.

"Regrettably, this incident is not an isolated occurrence.

It is imperative that we hold the perpetrators accountable, ensuring justice is served.

This will send a strong message that such acts will not be tolerated in our society", it said.

The criminal behaviour by a mob of a few unruly Meiteis is strongly condemned by all members of the Global Manipur Federation, Bangkok, Thailand, it added.

Comment