Manipur Dy CM Nemcha, Kuki Bodies Condemns Khongbal Killings, Demands Swift Justice

Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen condemned the deadly attack at Khongbal Tangkhul that killed three civilians from Nongsum and left several others injured, demanding swift justice for the victims and warning against retaliatory violence amid heightened tensions in the state.

Expressing deep anguish over the killings, Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen conveyed her heartfelt condolences to their bereaved families of Arubam Ronil, Lairenlakpam Inaobi and Kshetrimayum Sushil, while praying for the speedy recovery of those injured.

The Deputy Chief Minister called upon law enforcement agencies and the administration to act swiftly and ensure that those responsible for the attack were brought to justice.

“Civilian lives must be protected at all costs,” she said, underscoring the urgent need for effective security measures to prevent further loss of innocent lives.

In an appeal for restraint amid heightened tensions, Kipgen urged citizens to maintain calm, reject rumours and refrain from retaliatory violence, warning against actions that could further aggravate the already fragile situation in Manipur.

“Manipur has suffered enough, and our people deserve peace and security,” she said.

The Deputy Chief Minister also called on community leaders and civil society organisations to exercise responsibility and work collectively towards restoring normalcy and fostering reconciliation.

Kipgen, who holds the portfolios of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj and Tribal Affairs and Hills, stressed the need for swift justice while urging all stakeholders to prioritise peace and the protection of civilian lives.

Meanwhile, the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), also strongly condemned the killing of three Meitei civilians in Khongban village under Khamenlok area of Manipur’s Kangpokpi district, expressing anguish over the incident and warning against attempts to exploit the tragedy to inflame communal tensions.

CoTU expressed its deepest condolences to the bereaved families and mourned the deaths, while calling for immediate measures to protect the region and prevent further escalation of tensions between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities.

Emphasising the need to prevent the incident from deepening communal mistrust, the Sadar Hills-based tribal body urged the state government, security forces and the public to take immediate steps to safeguard the region and thwart what it described as senseless acts capable of aggravating inter-community hostility.

CoTU also cautioned against alleged attempts by malicious elements to exploit the killings and circulate fabricated narratives to foment animosity between the two communities, underscoring the need for restraint and responsible public discourse amid the fragile security situation.

The committee reiterated its support for peace initiatives under the leadership of Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, stating that it had consistently backed the current dispensation’s efforts to foster understanding among communities and restore peace in the violence-hit state.

CoTU concluded by paying tribute to the deceased and expressing solidarity with their bereaved families.

"May their souls rest in peace," the statement said

The Kuki Inpi and civil society organisations (CSOs) of Saikul Gamkai also strongly condemned the incident, warning that renewed violence could derail fragile efforts to restore peace in Manipur.

The organisations expressed shock over the incident, describing it as highly condemnable, particularly at a time when peace and normalcy were slowly returning through the efforts of the new government and peace-loving civil society leaders across the state.

“Violence will never bring solutions,” the organisations said, urging all right-thinking people to work towards restoring friendly and cordial relations among all communities in Manipur.

Expressing solidarity with the bereaved families, the Kuki Inpi and CSOs shared their grief and pain over the loss of lives and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured.

They also urged the government to take immediate action to identify the perpetrators and ensure they were booked and punished in accordance with the law.

The organisations stressed the need for accountability and restraint to prevent further violence and safeguard the fragile peace-building efforts in the state.

Vehemently condemning the killings, the Khamenlok Area Core Committee (KACCO) said it has dealt a fresh blow to fragile peace efforts in the conflict-scarred region, while expressing anguish over the deaths and warning against attempts to exploit the tragedy to trigger further communal violence.

In a statement, the KACCO said the incident, allegedly carried out by unidentified miscreants, had shattered the hopes of residents who have been struggling to rebuild their lives and restore peaceful coexistence after their area was burnt down during the violence of June 2-4, 2023.

Expressing deep condolences to the bereaved families, the committee said the latest killings had heightened fears in a region where residents have been holding on to the hope of rehabilitation, reconstruction and lasting peace.

“Violence has never been and will never be a solution to any problem,” the committee said, reiterating its commitment to maintaining harmony, fostering understanding and preventing further conflict.

The KACCO appealed to the government, security forces and the public to take immediate measures to safeguard the region, stressing that innocent civilians across communities must be able to live without fear, threats or insecurity.

It also urged all concerned to respect human life and refrain from actions that could deepen communal mistrust.

In a pointed warning, the committee alleged that vested interests and miscreants could attempt to falsely implicate the KACCO and the Kuki-Zo community living in the region in connection with the killings to provoke further violence and communal polarisation.

Urging civil society organisations, the public and the media to exercise restraint, the committee called for rigorous verification of facts and cautioned against the circulation of fabricated narratives and propaganda in the aftermath of the incident.

The committee stressed that the tragedy must not be allowed to become a trigger for renewed hostilities, underscoring the need to protect civilians and prevent further deterioration of the security situation in the region.