CoTU, ITLF condemn abduction
Source: Chronicle News Service
Kangpokpi, November 07 2023:
Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), Sadar Hills, Kangpokpi has served a 24-hour ultimatum to the authority concerned for tracing all the five missing Kuki-Zo people and bringing them back safe and sound to their respective families while ITLF condemned the alleged abduction of Kuki-Zo people.
According to CoTU media cell coordinator Ng Lun Kipgen, the missing Kuki-Zo people namely Manglun Haokip (65), son of Haokholet of Bolkot village and his wife Nengkim (60); Neilam Haokip (55), wife of Ginkhai Haokip of Laimanai Kuki; John Thangjalam Haokip (25), son of T Paoboi Haokip of Bolkot village; and Jamkhothang Hanglal (40) son of Semkhohao Hanghal of Mongjang village were headed for a wedding party.
They were waylaid by some unidentified persons from Kangchup Chingkhong, Ng Lun Kipgen said, adding that CoTU should not be responsible for any untoward incident arising out of the failure of tracing their whereabouts and handing them over to their respective families safe and sound.
Lun Kipgen further said that two Meetei teenagers who had crossed the Buffer Zone on November 5 at Kanglatongbi supposedly kidnapped by the village volunteer force was concocted narration to tarnish the image of Kuki-Zo community.
However, Kuki-Zo community gave support and cooperation in the search and combined operations taken up by the Kangpokpi SP and 22 Assam Rifles in the areas.
He then appealed to the other community not to fan hatred and animosity with spreading ill-conceived narration without proof.
On the other hand, Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) strongly condemned alleged abduction of Kuki-Zo civilians including two women by Meetei village volunteers from Kangchup Chingkhong village in Kangpokpi district.
According to a statement of ITLF, angry tribal volunteers at the frontline fired at the Meetei side after getting news of the abduction thereby resulting in a firefight.
There are reports of several injuries on the Meetei side, it said.
The ITLF statement further said that five tribal civilians were travelling towards L Phaijang village when they were accosted by gunmen.
In the ensuing scuffle, 65-year-old Manglun Haokip from Bolkot village got injured and fell unconscious.
Thinking him to be dead, he Was left behind but CRPF personnel later found him and transported him to Leimakhong.
Due to the severity of injuries, Manglun Haokip has been airlifted to a neighbouring state.
However, two women and two men were taken captive by Meetei volunteers, the ITLF statement said and appealed to central security forces to immediately launch operation for rescuing the missing men and women.