Meiteis, Nagas join hands in protest

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jul 8 : Meitei and Naga communities staged a sit-in protest at Pangei Bazar in Imphal East today, demanding the abrogation of the tripartite Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement signed among the Government of India, the Manipur Government, and more than two dozen Kuki militant groups.
During the protest, the demonstrators also demanded justice for the six Naga civilians who were abducted from Leilon Vaiphei on May 13 and later killed by Kuki armed groups.
They further sought justice for two siblings, a newborn baby girl and her five-year-old brother, who were killed in a bomb attack at Tronglaobi on the intervening night of April 6 and 7.
The protest demonstration was organised under the banner "Justice Delayed is Justice Denied, Punish the Killers, Restore the Rule of Law, and  Justice for the Six Liangmai Naga Brothers and Two Innocent Children of Tronglaobi by the Native People's Committee Manipur (NPCM), Challenger's Youth of Khundrakpam Assembly Constituency (CYKAC), Peace and Development Coordinating Committee (PDCC), and Khundrakpam Kendra Tengbang Lup (KKTL).
Placards bearing messages such as "No Justice, No Peace," "Evict Illegal Villages," "Stop Protecting Killers," "Enough is Enough," "Declare KNF (P) a Terrorist Organisation," "Abrogate the SoO Agreement,"* and Remove Nemcha Kipgen from the Post of Deputy Chief Minister" were displayed during the protest.
Speaking to the media, D Adam Liangmai, chairman of Konsakhul Village, alleged that the Government has not arrested any of the perpetrators involved in the killing of the six Naga civilians despite the deployment of a large number of Central security forces in the State.
He further alleged that the Central Government, the State Government, the State police, and the Central security forces have failed to take action against Kuki armed groups involved in attacks that claimed the lives of several Meitei and Naga civilians.
Adam also claimed that leaders of Kuki civil society organisations are in constant touch with Central security forces so as to allow the Kuki armed groups to operate with impunity.
Referring to the six slain Naga men, whose mutilated bodies were recovered on June 10, a day after the United Naga Council (UNC) secured the release of 14 Kuki hostages, Adam said their remains are still unclaimed.
He questioned why the authorities have not arrested or interrogated any residents of Leilon Vaiphei in connection with the killings.
He also alleged that a police personnel identified as Thangminlen, who was involved in the killing of the six Naga men, has not been arrested.
Adam cautioned that any initiative to restore normalcy in the State would not succeed if the Government continues to side with the Kukis.
The Konsakhul chairman said they would continue to stage different forms of protest until justice is delivered.
James Leishanthem, spokesperson of  CYKAC, said that Kuki narco-terrorist groups have been carrying out a series of violent attacks against the indigenous Meitei and Naga communities.
The Kuki groups who initially targeted the Meiteis have been attacking the Naga community too since the past few months, he said.
Alleging that the SoO agreement has allowed Kuki militant groups to act with impunity, he urged the Government to revoke the controversial pact.
He also alleged that the Government has so far failed to deliver justice to the victims of the Tronglaobi bomb attack. James said they would continue to stage protests until the Government takes strict action against Kuki narco-terrorists.