Remains of slain Rongmei Naga man laid to rest

By Our Staff Reporter
NONEY, Jun 9 : The mortal remains of Chunjanglung Panmei, who was killed by Kuki militants yesterday at Pongringlong Part -1 (Charoi Pandongba) Village under New Keithelmanbi Police Station, Kangpokpi District were claimed this afternoon by the family member in the presence of various Naga CSOs leaders at RIMS mortuary, Imphal.
Before leaving for his native village, a condolence service organised by several Naga civil society organisations was held at the premises of RIMS mortuary .
Nungba AC MLA Dipu Gangmei also attended the programme and consoled the family.
Speaking to the media, he appealed to one and all not to attack and harass innocent public.
Violence will never bring any solution, he said.
As soon as the body reached his native village, Pongringlong Part-2 near Tupul, a joint condolence service was organized by the Joint Tribes’ Council, Manipur, in collaboration with the Coordination Committee, Longmai Area.
The service, held at Tupul Playground, was attended by a large number of people from the Longmai (Noney) area to perform the last rites.
 The body was buried at Pongringlong Part -2.
Representatives of various civil organizations—including the Rongmei Naga Council Manipur, Zeme Naga Council, Liangmai Naga Council, Inpui Naga Union, Zeliangrong Union (Assam, Manipur & Nagaland) and others spoke at the condolence service.
During the programme, Late Chunjanglung Panmei was declared as a Naga Martyr.
Meanwhile the United Zeliangrongpui Coordination Committee (UZCC) has written to the Chief Minister, seeking justice for the Rongmei Naga man who was shot dead by Kuki militants yesterday.
In  the letter, the Committee said that  Chunjanglung Panmei (57), an innocent  villager of Pongringrong Village in Kangpokpi was ambushed and killed by Kuki militants while he was proceeding to inspect a water source near his village.
Condemning the 'senseless' killing, the UZCC urged the Government to identify, apprehend and prosecute the killers and also provide adequate compensation to the victim's family.
It also demanded the safety and protection of vulnerable Naga villages.
In light of the tragic killing, the Committee demanded abrogation of the  Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement signed between Kuki militant groups and the Government.
It also urged the Government to provide a suitable Government job to one of the family members of Late Chunjanglung Panmei as immediate assistance, and to grant ex-gratia compensation to the victim’s family without delay.
The NPF Manipur State Unit and the CPI Manipur State Council, in separate statements, condemned the "cowardly murder" of Chunjanglung Panmei of Pongringlong village.
The "murder" of an innocent civilian who was simply carrying out a community service by repairing the village water pipeline is a barbaric act that defies all human values and moral conscience, said the NPF Manipur State Unit.
"We condemn this heinous crime in the strongest possible terms. Those who target unarmed civilians are enemies of peace and humanity. Such acts of terror cannot be justified under any circumstance and must be rejected by all civilized people," it said.
The brutal killing of the innocent civilian must not go unanswered. Those responsible must be identified and held accountable. Peace cannot prevail where innocent blood is shed with impunity, and justice must be delivered swiftly and decisively, it added.
The party also expressed condolences to the bereaved family and prayed for the departed soul to rest in eternal peace.
The Communist Party of India, Manipur State Council said it strongly condemns the killing of civilians, and demanded decisive action from the Government to arrest and punish the perpetrators.
The Government shouldn't just condemn the killing. It should take action to arrest the perpetrators and punish them, said the party.
No matter how many CoBRA forces are deployed, if no action is taken against militants who have infiltrated from Myanmar, violence may never cease and peace may not return to Manipur, it said.