Student Murder Case: CBI arrests four; Joint Student Body, ITLF call total shutdown in Lamka

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Sunday arrested four Kuki-Zo individuals and detained two children who were alleged to be involved in connection with the killings of two Meitei teenagers in war zone areas in July last.

The six individuals were intercepted by a joint team of CBI and security forces in plain clothes near Kangvai, Lamka district, while travelling for Lamka town from Leimata village.

After the news of their arrest spread amongst the people, the Kuki-Zo womenfolk came out in protest against the arrest and blocked all roads leading to different places. The women also held a sit-in protest in front of the Mini-Secretariat as well as the Superintendent of Police office.

With deep concern over the matter and strongly condemning abduction of six civilians, including two minor girls in between Kangvai and Molhoi Village, who were on their way to Lamka town at around 8:45 am today, the Joint Student Body of Lamka (JSB) has called “12-hour total shutdown" in the entire district of Lamka (Churachandpur) in protest against the arrest, on October 2.

The abducted persons are identified as Seimalsom @ Boisom Haokip, President, KSO, Leimata Block; Paominlun Haokip, Secretary, KSO, Leimata Block; Lhingneichong Haokip, Tinneilhing, Tinneikhol ( 11 yrs) and Kimneijem (9 yrs).

JSB said: "The news that one woman was picked up by the CBI team without the presence of female police personnel is highly condemnable. Any such instances will be strongly opposed in the future."

While condemning the inhumane act of transporting even children along with those arrested, the Joint Student Body also warned that in the future, any person with arms and moving around in plain clothes would be stopped and action would be taken against them. It further announced to the general public that if they see any such people moving around in plain clothes and behaving in a suspicious manner, they should take action on them as they see fit.

Voicing their frustration at the "selective targeting of Kuki-Zomi-Mizo people" in the investigation of cases by even central agencies, JSB stated that it would oppose the biased selection of Police cases involving their people while the numerous cases of heinous crimes against their people are left ignored.

The JSB was also alarmed at the Facebook post of the Chief Minister, N. Biren Singh, that some of the culprits in a murder case have been caught when the case has not even been solved.

"We cannot but see this as an indication of a nexus between certain central agencies and the state government which have been succumbing to political pressure and manipulation," JSB said in a statement.

The safety and well-being of all members of our community are of utmost importance to us, and we express our heartfelt solidarity with the families and friends of those who have been unjustly taken. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this challenging time, JSB added.

The Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) in a separate statement declared indefinite shutdown from 10 am of October 2. The Forum warned the central agencies – NIA and CBI to release the 7 abductees within 48-hours, failing which a more intense agitation will follow in all hill districts of Manipur. The ITLF also declared that all boundary areas with the Meitei will be sealed from tomorrow and no one will be allowed to leave or enter the buffer zones. All government offices will be closed from tomorrow.