IMPHAL/UKHRUL: The headless body of Ajinbou Ringkangmai, one of the victims of the killings at Makui Asang and Tapon Naga villages, arrived at the mortuary of the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) in Imphal around midnight on Sunday. The Joint Tribes Council (JTC-Manipur) has refused to proceed with the post-mortem examination until his missing head is recovered and handed over to his family for a dignified burial.
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Several people gathered at the JNIMS mortuary to offer condolences to the bereaved family and express solidarity with the victims and the affected Naga communities.
Speaking to the media at the JNIMS mortuary, representatives of the JTC-Manipur said the committee had issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Government of India and the Government of Manipur to recover the missing head and take action against those allegedly responsible for the killings.
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The Working Committee of JTC-Manipur, representing the Inpui, Liangmai, Rongmei and Zeme communities, maintained that the post-mortem examinations of Ajinbou R. and Dibambou Ringkangmai would remain suspended until the missing head was recovered and returned to the family.
The committee described the incident as a grave crime against humanity and accused the Centre and the state government of failing to ensure justice for the victims.
The committee also alleged that those responsible for the killings were operating with impunity under the protection of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement.
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Demanding immediate action, the JTC-Manipur called for the arrest of Thangboi Kipgen, David Hangsing and Dr. Sailen Haokip, whom it named in its statement, and urged the authorities to ensure that they face legal proceedings.
They warned that it would take stringent measures if the governments failed to meet its demands within 48 hours. It maintained that the recovery of Ajinbou’s missing head and its return to the family were essential before the post-mortem examinations could proceed.
The committee said it would not accept delays in delivering justice to the victims and their families.
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