North East
2 Tangkhul Nagas killed in Ukhrul a day after CM’s visit
Tangkhul body blames Kuki militants
Imphal, Apr 18 (NNN): A day after Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh visited Ukhrul, two persons from the Tangkhul community were killed by suspected Kuki militants on Saturday along Imphal-Ukhrul road, the same route the chief minister took on Friday.
The Working Committee of Tangkhul Naga Long (WC-TNL) blamed the Kuki militants who are under Suspension of Operation (SoO).
The attack on the travellers happened near Yaolen Kuki village around 2.35 pm resulting to the dead of two Tangkhul Naga civilians identified as Chinaoshang Shokwungnao (45 years), son of Ruichumhao Shokwungnao, a retired Indian army personnel of the Naga Regiment from Tashar village, and Yaruingam Vashum (42), son of Thuimi Vashum of Kharasom CC village.
“The grave incident is beyond words for anyone to describe the savagery of the Kukis, who
have gone beyond the limit of human conscience and morality”, said the WC-TNL. It alleged that ever since the conflict between the Tangkhul Nagas and the Kukis started in early February, Kuki militants have been openly attacking civilians in Litan, Laho, Sinakeithei, Sikibung and Thawai.
The passengers including women, children and ailing persons were travelling from Imphal to
Ukhrul and had traversed through Mahadev and Litan with the help of security escorts.
The attack was carried out as soon as the escort team had returned towards Litan, said the WC-TNL. As many as six vehicles were travelling and hit by the Kuki militants who resorted to targeting the civilians with snipers and other sophisticated long-range rifles, further alleged the Tangkhul body.
The WC-TNL then said, “The apathetic silence of the state and central forces, who have openly allowed the atrocities of the feral Kukis to continue unchecked, has emboldened the Kuki militants to carry out such an inhuman attack”, adding, “The inability of the security forces to comb out illegal militants and to undertake area domination exercises begs the question on whether the security forces are incompetent or simply complicit with the Kuki militants. As such, the responsibility for the death of the two martyrs now lies solely in the hands of the state government and the central governments.”
“In view of this grave incident that happened just a day after the visit of Chief Minister Y Khemchand to Ukhrul and after his official assurance of providing RoP along the highway and security escort, the incident today clearly highlights the power and the integrity of the state government into serious question”, the Tangkhul body also stated.
The Working Committee of TNL then demanded the state government to immediately undertake a combing operation at Yaolen and adjoining Kuki villages.
Meanwhile, the United Naga Council (UNC) said that the attack is a “direct challenge to the collective security and dignity of the Nagas”.
Expressing its shock and condemning what it called “the calculated attacks in Naga villages and the dastardly ambush and killing of two Nagas along National Highway No. 202 today at TM. Kasom village, carried out by Kuki militants,” the UNC “calls upon all Naga tribes, villages, and organizations to uphold unity and solidarity in this hour to stand together as one people”. The Naga body further said that, in the face of external aggression targeting the Naga people, it “affirms the right of the Naga people to defend themselves and protect their homes and lives”.
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