KANGPOKPI: The killing of two Kuki-Zo women at Leisangphai village in Tamenglong district has triggered a sweeping wave of condemnation from Kuki-Zo political leaders, legislators and civil society organisations, with demands ranging from immediate security measures and prosecution of the perpetrators to independent investigations and decisive action against armed groups.
The two women, identified by the organisations as Kimjalhai Singson, 28, a recent nursing graduate, and Phalneichong Sitlhou, 76, were killed at Leisangphai, also known as Muktokhal, on September 15 while reportedly engaged in routine agricultural activities.
The killings came barely two days after four civilians, including two women, were killed and two others, including a minor, were injured in separate attacks in Tamenglong and Noney districts on September 13, according to the statements issued by Kuki-Zo organisations.
Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen, described the killings of Singson and Sitlhou as “deeply shocking and heartbreaking”, saying the loss of two defenseless women to violence was “particularly painful and utterly unacceptable”.
She said the latest incident, coming barely two days after four civilians were killed and two others, including a minor, injured, made the continued targeting of civilians a matter of grave concern.
“The safety of our people must remain paramount,” Kipgen said, urging the authorities to take every necessary measure to protect civilians, prevent further attacks and ensure that those responsible were brought to justice.
She appealed to people from all communities to stand together, maintain peace and not allow the tragedy to deepen hatred, division or further violence.
“No cause, grievance or circumstance can justify the taking of an innocent civilian life,” she said, adding that the killing of defenseless women and children was unacceptable.
Saitu MLA Haokholet Kipgen also strongly and unequivocally condemned what he described as the “cold-blooded and barbaric” killing of Kimjalhai Singson, a recent nursing graduate, and Phalneichong Sitlhou at Leisangphai village.
The MLA alleged that the two women were killed by armed cadres of NSCN-IM and its alleged proxy ZUF-K, describing the attack on defenseless civilians, particularly women and children, as a heinous violation of fundamental human rights.
Kipgen said every person has the right to live in safety, dignity and freedom from violence, adding that the continued loss of innocent lives was causing immeasurable suffering to families and communities.
He urged law-enforcement agencies to take all necessary measures to ensure that such acts of violence were not repeated and that those responsible were brought to justice.
“I earnestly appeal to all communities to completely shun violence in any form and join hands to restore peace and normalcy in the State,” Kipgen said.
Expressing solidarity with the victims and their bereaved families, the MLA said the killing of civilians must cease and those responsible must face justice.
Saikul MLA Kimneo Hangshing also condemned what she described as the “cold-blooded and barbaric” killing of Singson and Sitlhou.
Hangshing said the alleged involvement of armed cadres of NSCN-IM and ZUF-K, if established through investigation, would constitute a grave assault on innocent civilian lives.
She said the killing of a young woman who had just completed her nursing education along with another civilian woman could not be justified by any political cause, ideology or grievance.
The MLA questioned how many more innocent lives would have to be lost before decisive preventive and security measures were taken and demanded stronger security for vulnerable civilian populations.
She appealed to citizens and community leaders to exercise restraint and reject attempts to exploit the tragedy to provoke violence or hatred against innocent people.
Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) strongly condemned what it described as an “unprovoked attack” on Kuki villagers and alleged that the two women were killed by NSCN-IM and ZUF (Kamson).
KIM said six Kuki villagers had been killed over three days, including the two women at Leisangphai, and alleged that the victims had gone to their jhum fields before being waylaid and shot dead.
The apex Kuki tribal body questioned the Centre and the state government over what it described as repeated attacks on Kuki-Zo civilians and urged the authorities to act immediately and decisively.
KIM said the Kuki community had exercised considerable restraint despite repeated provocations and loss of innocent lives, particularly out of consideration for Nagas who, it said, did not support violence and desired peaceful coexistence between the two communities.
It warned that continued attacks on civilians and the alleged failure of authorities to protect them were pushing the situation towards an extremely dangerous point.
KIM demanded immediate government intervention to stop further attacks, protect vulnerable villages and bring those responsible to justice.
It also announced that, despite the pain this could cause the bereaved families, the mortal remains of the two women would not be claimed until justice was attained.
The Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) said the repeated killings of Kuki-Zo civilians had assumed an “unacceptable and alarming pattern” and could no longer be dismissed as isolated incidents.
The council alleged that the two women were shot dead by cadres of NSCN-IM and ZUF-K, barely a day after four Kuki-Zo civilians, including two women, were killed in Tamenglong and Noney.
It described the killings as a grave threat to Kuki-Zo communities and said the alleged attacks raised serious concerns over attempts to terrorise and drive Kuki-Zo communities from their settlements.
The council called upon the Government of India and the Manipur government to protect vulnerable civilians, bring perpetrators to justice and take firm, lawful action against armed groups attacking civilians.
“Condolences after every killing are not governance. Silence is not neutrality. Inaction is not peace,” KZC said, demanding immediate government action.
Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) condemned what it described as the “merciless killing” of innocent village women harvesting in fields at Leisang village, Tamenglong.
The organisation alleged the involvement of NSCN-IM and ZUF-K and described the killing of unarmed women in broad daylight as “inhuman, barbaric and cowardly”.
CoTU demanded immediate action, arrest of those responsible and justice for the victims.
It also questioned the deployment and operational pattern of COBRA forces in Manipur, asking why attacks allegedly involving NSCN-IM and ZUF-K continued despite the government’s claims of deploying thousands of COBRA personnel.
CoTU alleged that security operations appeared concentrated in Kuki-Zo-inhabited areas and questioned why armed groups allegedly responsible for attacks continued to operate.
It demanded answers from the government over what it described as a serious security failure.
Kuki Inpi Jiribam, Tamenglong and Noney also strongly condemned the killings, describing the victims as innocent Kuki-Zo cultivators who were attacked while working in their jhum fields.
The organisation identified the victims as Phalneichong Sitlhou, 76, wife of Seidou Sitlhou, and Kimjalhing Singson, 28, daughter of Paosei Singson, and alleged that a combined force of NSCN-IM and ZUF-K was responsible.
It said the killings came barely a day after four other Kuki-Zo civilians were killed and claimed that government representatives and the Joint Action Committee had already agreed in writing to strengthen security arrangements for civilian safety.
Despite those assurances, the organisation alleged, the killings occurred again.
It subsequently issued an ultimatum to the Central and state governments, demanding immediate action against the alleged perpetrators, including arrest and prosecution.
It also demanded initiation of the process to abrogate the ceasefire agreement with NSCN-IM.
The organisation announced that National Highway-37 would remain under complete shutdown until concrete action was taken, and said the mortal remains of the victims would not be accepted for final rites until justice was served.
Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO) City Branches including KSO Shillong, Guwahati, Pune, Hyderabad, Delhi & NCR, Coimbatore, Chennai, Kolkata, Kerala, Chandigarh, Bangalore and Mumbai, described the latest killings as part of what it called a continuing campaign of violence against Kuki villages in Tamenglong and Noney.
The organisation alleged that NSCN-IM and ZUF-K were responsible and claimed that 24 Kuki civilians had so far been killed, including seven women, two of them pregnant.
The KSO said the latest victims were an elderly woman collecting firewood and a young nursing graduate assisting her parents in farming, and argued that neither could be considered a military target.
It demanded an immediate, independent and time-bound investigation into killings of Kuki civilians in Tamenglong and Noney, including the deaths at Leisangphai.
The student body also demanded arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators and those who command them, adequate central security deployment for vulnerable villages, an end to what it called a “culture of impunity” and immediate action against armed groups accused of attacking civilians.
The KSO said the killings would not be forgotten and urged that restraint exercised by the community should not be mistaken for surrender.
