Meitei groups call on CM, ask govt to book culprits within 24 hours

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 4, 2024

A delegation from three Meitei organizations—Phayeng Apurba Nupi Lup, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) against the brutal killing of Late Ngangbam (O) Surbala, and the Peace and Protection Committee, Chakpa Phayeng—met with Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on Wednesday and demanded that the state government take immediate action to apprehend those responsible for a recent drone bombing, insisting that the culprits be brought to justice within 24 hours.

In a memorandum to the Chief Minister, the organizations claimed that they would resort to agitation if the government failed to take action against the culprits immediately.

Taking to X, the Chief Minister wrote: “Had a meeting with the members of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) formed in response to the tragic and brutal killing of (L) Ngangbam Surbala Devi by the Kuki militants at Koutruk. The grief and frustration felt by the community are deeply understood, and the government is committed to taking necessary steps to address these issues promptly and effectively,” Singh wrote in a post on X after the meeting.”

Earlier, more than 500 people of Phayeng village, where suspected Kuki insurgents carried out the drone bombing, on September 1, staged a two-hour sit-in-demonstration demanding against the Kuki insurgent groups at Phayeng Awang Leikai Keithel Sang on Wednesday from 1 pm to 3 pm.

A woman identified as Ngangbam Surbala Devi was killed and her young daughter was injured in the drone bombing by suspected Kuki militants at Koutruk village.

The protest was jointly organized by Phayeng Apurba Nupi Lup and the Joint Action Committee (JAC) against the brutal killing of Late Ngangbam (O) Surbala and the peace and protection committee, Chakpa Phayeng.

In the memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister, the organizations stated: “Highly trained Kuki insurgents have deployed numerous RPGs using high tech drones Koutruk in Imphal West district at around 3 pm on September against civilians and security forces. A woman was killed while her 8-year-old daughter was injured in the incident. Two police personnel and several other civilians were also injured.”

The memorandum demanded the state government punish all the Kuki insurgents within 24 hours just after submission of the memorandum.

The organisations also demanded the government for the abrogation of Supension of Operation (SoO) agreement with Kuki insurgent groups immediately.

The organisations demanded a written assurance from the state government for the deployment of state forces in the Meitei villages and the removal of Assam Rifles from the peripheral areas of Sekmai Legislative Assembly Constituency because the forces intentionally ignored the barbaric act of Kuki insurgent groups. They also demanded action against the officer-in-charge who remained a mere spectator during the attack.

The memorandum further demanded the government to bear the responsibilities of the deceased and injured persons and the educational expenses of the 8-year-old girl, who was injured in the incident.

The memorandum added that the government should not disturb the village volunteers till the restoration of normalcy and said that it would go for mass agitation if the government fails to fulfil its commitment.