Sadar Hills bandh called
Source: The Sangai Express

Kangpokpi, May 26 2015 : Irritated and disappointed over the alleged lawlessness, injustice and failure of the State Government to fulfil its demands within the stipulated 48 hours, Kuki Inpi, Sadar Hills along with other civil society organizations like KISG, KWU, KWOHR, KSO, TSA and other local bodies have announced a 48 hour total bandh in Sadar Hills from the midnight of May 30 .

Kuki Inpi, Sadar Hills president Seikhomang Khongsai said that they had submitted a representation to the Chief Minister to settle the issue of three persons killed by security forces at B Gamnom on May 23 .

The representation said that the enquiry over B Gamnom killing on May 23 by the Kuki civil bodies has established that the incident was a 'fake encounter', which was a case of human rights violation meted out by security forces.

It alleged that three persons were shot dead in cold blood by security forces, the memorandum said and added that one of them was a civilian.

The civilian victim Paokholen Khongsai was the Church secretary of the village and he had held the post of village authority secretary for five years, the representation added.

It further said that the Church leader was overseeing the ongoing Church construction work wherein all the villagers were engaged in the work on the fateful day.

At that time, the security forces swooped down on the village and started firing indiscriminately.

The civilian was injured while trying to run to safety, the memorandum said and added that he was shot dead although he cried for help and added that all facts can be attributed to eyewitnesses and proof.

The memorandum further said that there have been many instances in the past when Assam Rifles had attacked Kuki villages in other areas.

The Kuki villagers are now feeling resentment over the lawlessness and injustice prevailing in the State and the frequent attacks on Kuki villages and gross violation of human rights by security forces in the name of counter insurgency operation.

Kuki bodies's demands include punishment of the involved security force personnel as per the law, adequate compensation to the next of kin of Paokholen Khongsai.

They also demanded the Government to ensure that no attack on Kuki villages and civilian casualties recur in future.

Since the Government has failed to fulfil these demands within the stipulated time, the CSOs in Sadar Hills have resolved to call a 48 hour Sadar Hills bandh from the midnight of May 30 till midnight of June 1 against lawlessness and injustice.

The bodies claim that they would claim the body of Paokholen until an amicable settlement is brought.

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