Senapati: The United Naga Council (UNC) has strongly condemned the killing of a Maring Naga woman at Sawombung in Imphal East district on July 15, Saturday, reportedly by Arambai Tenggol.
In a press release issued from the Information and Publicity Wing of the UNC, the apex Manipur Naga body stated that the it is aghast to learn the cold blooded murder of one, Lucy Marem, aged about 57 years, D/o Thoukhal Marem of Beaulahram Village, Pallel, Chandel District in the evening of July 15 at Sawombung (Ukhrul road), Imphal East District by the Meitei’s Arambai Tenggol.
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Stating that the victim was handed over to the Arambai Tenggol after forcefully by Meira Paibis (Manipuri women torch bearers), UNC pointed out that the the newly formed private militia [Arambai Tenggol] is known for their notoriety during the present conflict in Manipur.
UNC termed the involvement of the Meira Paibis “unimaginable.”
“It is unimaginable for a women organization like Meira Paibis who profess to be torch bearer of peace partaking in acts of killings,” UNC said.
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While UNC condemns such barbaric acts committed on innocent Nagas despite knowing her identity as Naga, it stated that since the beginning of the unfortunate conflict between Meiteis and Kukis, the UNC has maintained that peace must prevail and have lent their might toward this end, it said.
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Stating that vested interest parties who wish to drag the Nagas into this conflict will not be spared, the apex Naga body said that its patience and accommodating acts of the recent past should not be taken as a sign of weakness by all concerned who have provoked, destroying their properties, torturing and humiliating the Nagas during the present conflict at different places of time, it warned.
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UNC seriously viewing the murder of the Maram Naga woman demand three key demands:
- The state government must immediately constitute Judiciary Inquiry Committee and arrest those perpetrators of the crime (Including those Meira Paibis who are complicit in the act of crime). And exemplary punishment should be initiated upon the culprits.
- Cold Blooded killing of Naga sister Lucy Maring must be brought in the limelight of justice befittingly as per the Naga Customary Law.
- The Meitel Civil Society Organizations will be equally held responsible for this despicable act hence their role and position must be made known to all concerned.
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N. Gonmei Pajan, vice president, UNC while briefing media stated that as a mark of their resentment for the brutal murder and tribute to innocent victim (Late) Lucy Marem, the UNC had announced for a 12-hour total shutdown to be observed in all Naga areas of Manipur from 6 am to 6 pm on Monday, July 17.
In the event of not fulfilling their demands within 48 hours deadline, the UNC had warned that further course of action will be initiated.
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The current violent ethnic conflict between the Meetei/Meitei and Kuki-Zo groups since May 3 in Manipur state has displaced tens of thousands of people from both the communities and has claimed over 120 lives. The epicenter of the conflict in the state hills are Churachandpur and Kangpokpi Districts.
Of the 16 Districts in Manipur, 10 Districts are in the hills and 6 Districts (Kakching, Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Jiribam) are in the valley. Naga dominated hill Districts namely, Tamenglong, Noney, Chandel, Kamjong, Ukhrul, Senapati are largely unaffected by the prevailing conflict.
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