Imphal: Unidentified armed miscreants ambushed and killed three Kuki-Zo persons on Tuesday.
Reliable sources said the incident occurred between Kharam Vaiphei and Ireng Village under Kangchup Police Station in Kangpokpi District at approximately 7:30 AM.
The three individuals are identified as Ngamminlun Kipgen from Lhangkichoi Village, Satneo Tuboi, and Ngamminlun Lhouvm from K. Ponlen Village, all in Kangpokpi District, lost their lives on the spot.
Furthermore, sources say the Gypsy vehicle the three deceased were travelling with was set ablaze during the incident. They were travelling along Kangpokpi to Churachandpur road when they were ambushed by unidentified armed miscreants.
Kangchup Police Station has registered a case. No one has claimed responsibility for the killing incident during the time of filing this report.
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Meanwhile, Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) in a press release today accused Manipur State calling Tuesday’s killings as State Sponsored terrorist repeated attacks on the Kuki-Zo villages. CoTU naming the deceased persons Satneo Tuboi and Ngamminlun Lhouvm of K. Ponlen Village, and Ngamminiun Kipgen of Lhangkichoi Village (Secy. Thadou Artiste Association) said “such cold blooded murder of the innocent Kuki-Zo Villagers will not be tolerated and befitting action will be taken against stray Meitei terrorist trespassing into the Hills.”
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CoTU further calling Tuesdays killings, “pogrom initiated by the State Leadership” also accused the “impersonation of State Police and Commandos by the Seperatist Meitei Terrorist have totally suffice the complicity of the State governance.”
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“If the Union Home Ministry is sincere in its appeal for normalcy then it must immediately declare all Valley district as ‘Disturbed Areas under AFSPA failing which it will be considered as an inaction from the Union Home Ministry to provide Leeway for the Wiping out Campaign’ initiated by the State Autocratic leadership and we will be left with no choice but to retaliate in full scale and might,” CoTU added.
Update:
The Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) the apex civil body of the Kuki tribal community has said the killings is a “deliberate persecution against our people is most condemnable. India must protect its citizens.” KIM claimed that the 3 Kuki men were waylaid and brutally killed by Meitei Police Commandos.
In connection to Tuesday’s killings, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) in a press release on Tuesday said it “vehemently condemns the relentless assaults on Kuki-Zo villages and innocent civilians perpetrated by the Valley Based Meitei Insurgents Groups (VBIG). Regrettably, we mourn the loss of three innocent civilians who were tragically ambushed while traveling on the road between Ireng and Kharam Vaiphei villages, approximately 20 kilometers northwest of Imphal. The Kuki-Zo tribals have valiantly endeavored to uphold peace following the initial wave of violence in May 2023. However, the ceaseless onslaughts and acts of arson are pushing us to our limits, testing our resolve to maintain tranquility. Furthermore, it appears that the pilfered weaponry and ammunition from Imphal valley have fallen into the hands of the VBIG. Defense officials have repeatedly cautioned about the resurgence of proscribed Meitei secessionist groups such as UNLF, PREPAK, PLA, KYKL, CORCOM, and others.”
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