IMPHAL/UKHRUL: The mortal remains of four civilians killed in an ambush along the Imphal–Ukhrul road reached the mortuary of Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS), Imphal, on Saturday, as political leaders and civil society representatives condemned the killings and called for stronger security measures.
Chairman of the Manipur Hill Areas Committee (HAC), Dinganglung Gangmei, alleged a “hidden agenda of a proxy war” behind the continuing violence in Manipur, while Phungyar MLA Leishiyo Keishing and Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) convenor YK Dhiren also condemned Friday’s attack.
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Speaking to the media during his visit to the JNIMS mortuary, Gangmei described the killings as beyond condemnation, saying the people of Manipur had endured senseless violence for more than four years.
“We have witnessed the hidden agenda of a proxy war, and we are not happy,” he said, urging the central government to rein in the elements responsible for disturbing peace in the state.
He maintained that legislators, irrespective of their community affiliations, wanted peace and were not in favour of violence. However, he acknowledged that the situation on the ground had gone beyond their control.
Gangmei appealed to the authorities to take decisive action against those involved in the violence and create conditions for peace to return to Manipur.
Phungyar MLA Leishiyo Keishing also strongly condemned the killings, describing the attack as barbaric and unforgivable. He said violence against innocent civilians must be condemned by everyone, irrespective of caste or community.
While acknowledging the government’s efforts to protect lives and property, Keishing pointed to the challenges of maintaining security across the state’s vast and forested terrain.
Referring to the circumstances of Friday’s ambush, he noted that unlike some previous attacks along national highways, where armed assailants reportedly fired from a distance, the latest attack was carried out at close range.
He called for stronger security arrangements, particularly along vulnerable stretches of national highways, to prevent similar attacks.
Meanwhile, COCOMI convenor YK Dhiren questioned the adequacy of the government’s security arrangements, stressing that the protection of ordinary citizens must receive greater priority.
Dhiren made the remarks during his visit to the JNIMS mortuary, where the bodies of the four victims were brought on Saturday. Leaders representing different indigenous communities of Manipur also gathered at the hospital to receive the mortal remains and offer prayers in memory of the deceased.
Expressing condolences to the bereaved families, Dhiren said the government had failed to put in place adequate security arrangements to protect ordinary citizens.
He suggested that security personnel deployed for the protection of certain officials, wherever such deployment was not essential, should be withdrawn and redeployed to vulnerable and sensitive areas.
He stressed that security forces must be stationed where they are most needed to protect civilians and prevent further attacks.
