Cry for justice rings loud at Namdilong

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, July 27 : A sit-in protest was held today at Namdilong village gate, Kanglatongbi, demanding justice for the six Naga men who were abducted from Leilon Vaiphei village on May 13 and later killed by Kuki groups in the most heinous manner.
Members from different communities participated in the protest, holding placards bearing messages such as "Innocent Lives Must Not Be Bargaining Tools", "Wake Up Leader, Arrest the Killers", "Hostages Are Humans, Not Weapons", "Silence is Complicit, Catch the Killers", "No Community Should Live in Fear", and "Too Slow, Too Late, Justice Has Awaited".
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the protest, Foothills Naga Coordinating Committee (FNCC) convenor Akhiu Ngaomei said the six Naga men were abducted from Leilon Vaiphei village more than two and a half months ago.
Alleging that the failure of the Government to arrest those responsible so far reflects a disregard for the lives of indigenous people, Ngaomei said the blockade on the supply of goods to the Kuki areas would continue until justice is delivered.
He, meanwhile, urged the Government to remove all the camps of Kuki armed groups under Suspension of Operation (SoO) pact from the foothill areas and also identify illegal immigrants settling in the State.
Social activist Ashang Kasar alleged that the Government is deliberately not  arresting those responsible for the killing of the six Naga men.
He also criticised elected representatives, including MPs and MLAs, for their  inability to take effective steps towards securing justice for the victims, stating that they were elected to serve and represent the people.
He further alleged that the State Government has been watching the onslaughts by Kuki groups like some sort of festivity, instead of taking effective measures to address the situation.