Bullet-riddled bodies found, KIM fumes
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 09 2023: Two bodies, including that of a woman, with bullet wounds were found during the past 24 hours, the police said on Thursday, adding that the victims were missing since Tuesday from Kangchup.

The police said the body of a middle-aged woman was recovered from Tairenpokpi area in Imphal West district, while the body of a man, believed to be in his forties, was found in the Takhok Mapal Makha area in Imphal East district.

The deceased woman is believed to be one of the four missing persons, who were recently "abducted by unidentified men" from the Kangchup foothills in Imphal West district.

The police said that on Tuesday, five persons, including three women, were confronted by an enraged mob at Kangchup Chingkhong while they were travelling in a car from Churachandpur to Leimakhong.

The mob forcibly took away four of them, while one escaped.

One person was later rescued by the security forces and airlifted to Dimapur for medical treatment.

The whereabouts of the other four individuals, including the one who escaped, remained unknown.

The Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF), an apex body of tribals in Manipur, has severely condemned the killings.

Meanwhile, Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) said that two out of the five Kuki-Zo individuals abducted by a group of people from Kangchup Chingkhong ,on November 7 morning have been murdered while whereabouts of the other two could not be established though one has been rescued by Central forces.

KIM urged authorities concerned to take stringent and immediate action against murderers of the two individuals as well as against abduction and detention of two others whose fate lies on the commitment of the Central government.

According to a KIM statement, five Kuki-Zo individuals namely Manglun Haokip (65), Nengkim (60), Neilam (55), John Thangjalam Haokip (25) and Jamkhothang (40) were going to L Phaijang village in Kangpokpi district to perform nuptial customary practices in the morning of November 7.However, they were intercepted by a group of people at Kangchup Chingkhong and mercilessly murdered two of them.

Swift intervention by central security forces deployed nearby rescued Manglun Haokip of L Bolkot village in Churachandpur district, who is now being hospitalised in critical condition.

Whereabouts of the two others are still unknown, KIM said and demanded prompt action from the side of Government of India particularly the Ministry of Home Affairs for nabbing culprits and punishing them according to the law of the land.

The KIM statement further said that Central government is duty-bound and responsible for impartial justice to Kuki-Zo victims without further delay and ensure appropriate security measures for the safety of Kuki-Zo people.

It also said that the Centre must expedite political dialogue for peace and stability in the region.

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