UKHRUL: The Native People’s Committee Manipur (NHCM) has called a 48-hour general strike in Manipur in protest against the killing of three Meitei civilians in the Khongbal area in Kangpokpi District today.
The NPCM stated that the deadly attack claimed the lives of three innocent Meitei civilians from Uyumpok and Nongshum who were collecting firewood in community forest areas.
The NPCM has placed several key demands, including immediate and visible military action against armed groups; identification and vacation of unauthorised armed camps; resignation of deputy chief minister Nemcha Kipgen; time-bound decision on SoO agreement; transparent and time-bound investigation; and security for indigenous residents.
The committee clarified that services including health, religious activities and institutions, and essential services shall be exempted from the purview of the strike.
Meanwhile, Kuki organisations including Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), Khamenlok Area Core Committee, and Ihang Bungpi Working Committee have condemned the killings.
The CoTU has condemned the incident while also paying deepest condolences to the bereaved families. The committee appealed to the “government, security forces, and the general public to take immediate steps to protect and safeguard the region from senseless acts that may deepen communal mistrust between the Kuki-Zo and the Meitei communities”.
Also read | COCOMI Demands Military Crackdown, Abrogation of SoO After 3 Civilians Killed in Khongbal
The Ihang-Bungpi Working Committee while strongly condemning the “tragic and deeply disturbing incident near Khongpan village” stated that the protection of civilian lives must remain a top priority. The committee urges the government to take immediate and appropriate action to establish the facts. It also demanded a fair and transparent investigation to identify those responsible and ensure legal action.
The Khamenlok Area Core Committee also expressed shock and anguish over what it called a tragic incident. The committee while offering its deepest condolences to the bereaved families, stated that the committee stands for peace. The committee added that they have consistently made every effort to maintain harmony, foster understanding, and prevent conflict in the region.