The Kuki Inpi South West Sadar Hills (KI-SWSH) challenged the Manipur Director General of Police (DGP) to translate his public commitment to the rule of law into "decisive executive action" by prosecuting individuals who allegedly bypass legal procedures and take the law into their own hands.
The demand came amid outrage over an attack on L. Munlui village in Kangpokpi district and the subsequent controversy surrounding the treatment and evacuation of three critically injured civilians to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal.
The Kuki body condemned the June 15 armed assault on L. Munlui village, alleging that cadres of NSCN-IM and ZUF-Kamson carried out the attack using sophisticated weapons and explosive devices.
The organisation said the attack left three civilians critically wounded and described it as part of a continuing pattern of violence targeting Kuki-inhabited areas.
Expressing concern over what it termed the state's inability to neutralise armed groups allegedly involved in repeated attacks, KI-SWSH questioned whether such elements were operating with "impunity" despite recurring incidents of violence.
The organisation was particularly critical of developments at RIMS Hospital, where the injured civilians were shifted for treatment after being identified and evacuated by security forces.
According to the statement, the victims were allegedly branded as terrorists despite being civilians, leading to a tense situation in and around the hospital premises.
"It is highly shocking and unprecedented that despite security forces properly identifying them as civilians and transporting them to RIMS Hospital, they were branded as terrorists," the organisation said, adding that the reported intrusion into the hospital environment disregarded the condition of injured patients and violated basic humanitarian norms.
Against this backdrop, KI-SWSH called upon the Manipur DGP to honour his official assurances by ensuring strict legal action against all those who circumvent established legal procedures and engage in unlawful acts.
"We call upon the Director General of Police, Manipur, to validate his official pledge through decisive executive action, ensuring that all perpetrators who bypass statutory legal procedures and take the law into their own hands are prosecuted under the full force of the law," the statement said.
The organisation further argued that the latest incident demonstrated the need for a separate administration for the Kuki people, describing it as the only viable mechanism for ensuring long-term security and protection.
It also urged the government to immediately establish quality healthcare and educational infrastructure in Kuki-inhabited areas, stating that the lack of accessible facilities continued to compound the hardships faced by residents in conflict-affected regions.
The Hills Journal
K. Salbung, Churachandpur
Manipur-795128
