UKHRUL: Several civil society organisations, village bodies, and Ukhrul MLA Ram Muivah, condemning the killings at New Haven on November 13, have questioned the security lapse leading to the incident. They have demanded immediate accountability, a thorough investigation, and swift justice. MLA Ram Muivah also wrote to the chief minister, seeking urgent intervention and appropriate action.
The fatal ambush claimed the lives of Kapangkhui Raihing and Haoleila Raihing, mother and son duo of Shangshak village, and siblings Tychicus Ngalung and Khanmila Ngalung of Tashar village.
Expressing outrage over the incident, the Tashar village alleged a serious security lapse, stating that the BSF and Manipur Police were posted a few metres away from the incident. The villagers also alleged that the Yaolen Kuki village, located just opposite the New Haven, was sheltering Kuki militants.
Mourning the loss of the four Naga civilians, Shokvao Katamnao Long (students’ union) stated that the cold-blooded, brutal murder was not the first time and alleged that continued inaction by the authorities resulted in the act. They questioned how many more lives must be lost before action is taken and how many families must weep before the authorities act.
Related | Four Killed in Ambush by suspected Kuki Militants along NH-202 Imphal-Ukhrul Road
The Tangkhul Naga Foothills Organisation (TNFO) questioned how four innocent civilians can be brutally killed approximate to 600 metres away from an established BSF outpost. The organisation stated that the incident exposes serious security lapse and destroys whatever trust remains in the security arrangements provided by the state and Central Government.
The Native People’s Committee Manipur (NPCM) stated that the gruesome incident is yet another manifestation of the escalating climate of terror, lawlessness, and insecurity prevailing in Manipur. The committee also termed the attack on civilians an attack on the collective security of the indigenous people of Manipur.
The civil bodies place several key demands including immediate operation and identification of terror groups involved, arrest of perpetrators, high level and impartial enquiry, adequate security guarantees for all vulnerable areas in Ukhrul, Shokvao, and others, immediate relief and compensation, accountability from the concerned security and administrative authorities, and abrogation of Suspension of Operations.
MLA Ram Muivah, in a letter to the CM, alleged that over 100 Police personnel and 800 MR of Ukhrul are being utilized outside Ukhrul and demanded that the personnel be returned to the district immediately. Stating that nine lives have been lost in the area, he demanded security between Mahadev and New Haven, a stretch of mere 15 Km along NH-202. He also urged the chief minister to advise the DGP to conduct combing operations and send back the Ukhrul police and MR personnel to the district.
