The Kuki-Zo students’ organisations strongly condemned the inhumane and barbaric murdering of a tribal village volunteer at Langza and Chinglangmei under Lamka (Churachandpur) district in early Sunday morning and urged the authorities concerned to provide security protection to Kuki Zo villages in vulnerable areas.
The Kuki Students Organisation, Churachandpur, in its press release issued on Sunday stated that the majority Meitei community relentless violence/killings on the Kuki-Zo tribals continued despite the peace appeal made by the ‘chief orchestrator’ of the ongoing violence – N. Biren Singh.
It stated that the heinous inhumane attack on the two villages resulted in arsoning of 26 houses and three Churches belonging to Kuki-Zo community, thus completely burning down to ashes and the assailants even resorted to shameless act of looting all the properties of the innocent villagers.
While some innocent villagers managed to escape, one village volunteer, namely, David Hmar, tragically lost his life and the assailants, before callously discarding his body into one of the engulfed houses, cruelly beheaded and displayed the victim’s head on a Church fence.
“Even in the worst-case scenario, prisoners of war are entitled to be treated with dignity in all circumstances. The brutally murdered villager was severely tortured to death without an iota of any humanitarian values,” KSO said.
While extending its condolences to the bereaved families, the KSO Churachandpur maintained that it would continue to stand in solidarity with their people to safeguard Kuki-Zo land, rights and identity and would continue to stand tall against any inhuman atrocities unleashed upon their people.
KSO also urged the central security forces to protect the tribal villages situated in buffer zones from further attack by the radicalized Meitei separatists.
The Hmar Students' Association, Joint Headquarters Delhi, while condemning the killing, stated that the incident has left the Hmar community shattered and appalled.
Expressing its heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of David, HSA stated that David’s courageous actions, selflessness and unwavering commitment in defending his village and tribesmen until his last breath would serve as a shining example of bravery and resilience and that his acts would be forever etched in memories of the people.
“The act of Meitei terrorists, who not only took the life of an innocent man but also callously displayed his severed head on a pole, is not only a gross violation of human rights but also an abomination against humanity itself,” HAS said.
Vehemently condemning the atrocities, HSA stated that such a cowardly act would not deter the Kuki-Zo from standing with its brethren tribes against anti-national terrorists. The sacrifice of David will not go in vain, and the association will continue to seek justice for his untimely demise, Hmar students added.
HSA also requested the central government to provide increased security measures to protect the Kuki-Zo community in Langza village and other vulnerable areas.
In a separate press release, the Zomi Students’ Federation stated that it was unfortunate that yet another member of the Kuki-Zo, David Thiek, has fallen victim to the complicity of the political leadership and the Meira Paibis with their armed terrorist groups.
“Recent events have proved beyond any doubt the nexus between the different sections of Meitei society; their political leaders and their armed radicalised groups such as Arambai Tengol or the Valley Based Insurgent Groups (VBIGS) or their womenfolk (Meira Paibi),” said ZSF, and added that such nexus between the different sections of Meitei society has again resulted in the brutal killing by decapitation of David Thiek.
ZSF also stated that the Chief Minister, N. Biren Singh’s visit to Laingoubi Ching on Sunday resulted in fierce fighting between Meitei insurgents and tribal village defenders in the area.
ZSF stated: “ It is obvious that the CM himself transported the attackers as part of his official convoy, in order not to be stopped by Central Security Forces maintaining a buffer zone.”
It demanded that the increasing use of official channels and use of women and children so as to gain an advantage over the tribals had to be stopped and more determined action by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Central Forces should be taken up.
The ZSF alleged that the Meira Paibis used to accompany the attackers and in most cases, ride along with them and go into action at the first sight of intervention by the central security forces who try to end the violence with the attackers as they accompany perpetrators. Such a role of accompanying the attackers is now being played by the Chief Minister himself, it added.
The Hills Journal
K. Salbung, Churachandpur
Manipur-795128
