Bodies condemn assault, set 48-hour deadline
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, October 31 2024: Naga People's Organisation (NPO), Senapati District Students' Association (SDSA), and Senapati District Women's Association (SDWA) have strongly condemned the brutal assault of two individuals from Senapati district on Thursday and demanded justice for the victims within 48 hours.

The duo V Hrangao Blesson Pountai, s/o Veino of Kodom Khullen village, and DalouPoumai, s/o Hriinii of Liyai Khullen village, were reportedly assaulted by members of Arambai Tenggol (AT) Unit 18 in Lamsang area, Imphal West in the early hours of Thursday.

According to the organisations, Blesson and Dalou were returning from a livestock purchase when they were forcefully detained around 3 am by members of AT.

They were dragged into the Unit 18 camp and subjected to severe physical assault, resulting in multiple injuries.

The perpetrators also seized a sum of Rs 61,400 from them at gunpoint.

Despite presenting proof of their identities, the victims were threatened and assaulted.

The frontal organisations of Senapati district demanded that the state government deliver justice to the victims within 48 hours while warning that failure to do so would compel them to pursue further action to protect their community.

They also called upon all citizens in the district to remain vigilant and unite in the pursuit of justice for their Naga brothers.

The organisations expressed deep concern over the rising incidents of public harassment and violence attributed to Arambai Tenggol, which claims to be a revivalist organisation aimed at promoting the native Sanamahi religion among the Meetei.

The assault on Blesson and Dalou is viewed as a direct violation of personal safety, dignity, and fundamental rights, undermining the values of entrepreneurship and community contribution.

In their statement, the organisations criticised the effectiveness of law enforcement in preventing such violent acts and called for a thorough investigation into the incident.

They urged the police and judicial authorities to ensure that the perpetrators are held accountable, and appealed to community leaders to promote peace, tolerance, and respect for human rights to prevent future incidents.

All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM) also strongly condemned the assault and urged authorities concerned to take up swift and befitting actions against the perpetrators as per the law of the land.

ANSAM said that Nagas in Manipur have been maintaining the position of neutrality since the beginning of the mayhem between two communities of the state.

It also said that restoring the situation back to normalcy has always been their utmost priority as a peace loving community while also condemning all forms of violence in the state.

"We have neither supported nor stood as an agency to any of the warring communities.

Unfortunately, to our utter shock and dismay, Nagas are always becoming the victims of today's conflict as witnessed from various incidents and crimes repeatedly committed towards the Naga civilians by both the warring communities despite our repeated appeal to understand our position," ANSAM added.

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