COCOMI goes full blast against half baked report of police ‘Names without surnames is a ploy to blunt people's demand’

By Our Staff Reporter
Imphal, Jul 10 : The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has stated that the police statement claiming the arrest of two individuals with Meitei names, without disclosing their full identities, in connection with the abduction and killing of six Naga civilians is an attempt to undermine the people's movement demanding justice for the victims.
Addressing a press conference at Lamphel today, COCOMI convenor YK Dhiren said that the Government action is to divert public attention and weaken the ongoing demand for justice.
He said that Pradip and Ayingbi, who were arrested in connection with the case, are Kukis who had been residing at Leilon Vaiphei for decades.
He also questioned whether Ayingbi and Pradip were the only individuals involved in the abduction, stating that residents of Konsakhul had submitted the identities of other persons involved in the abduction to the authorities.
Where have the other perpetrators gone ?, he asked, accusing the Government of conspiring to create enmity between the Meiteis and the Nagas.
Dhiren also said the Kuki Zo Council (KZC) had publicly admitted that the Naga victims were killed by Kuki Zo group.
However, he stated that no action has been taken against the chief of Leilon Vaiphei, from where 18 Naga civilians were abducted before being handed over to a Kuki armed group on May 13 last.
While 12 of the abducted Naga civilians were later released, the bodies of the remaining six, were recovered in mutilated conditions on June 10, a day after the United Naga Council (UNC) facilitated the release of all Kuki hostages.
He accused the Government of attempting to create enmity among indigenous communities.
Saying that the indigenous people of Manipur have been staging protests demanding justice for the six Naga victims, he reiterated that the police claim of arresting two individuals without disclosing their full identities, including their surnames, is to create confusion among the public.
Further stating that the Naga women who were also abducted on the same day had submitted the identities of five Leilon Vaiphei residents  involved in the abduction to the authorities, including the village chief and a police personnel, he added that the manner in which the Government has responded to the information provided is unsatisfactory.
No legal action has been taken against the Leilon Vaiphei village chief so far, despite the abduction having taken place nearly two months ago, he said.
Appealing to the people to understand the alleged ploy of the Government, he said that they would never stop seeking justice for the Meitei and Naga victims killed by Kuki armed groups.
He also said that the Chief Minister's recent statement describing the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement as a matter concerning the Central Government was irresponsible.