Manipur: Kuki Student Body Terms Kamjong Violence 'Pre-Planned', Demands Suspension of Police & Assam Rifles Personnel

Kamjong, March 18, 2020:

Kukis living outside Northeast India have vehemently condemned the violent clash between fellow Kukis and Tangkhuls in Kamjong district of Manipur, wherein an entire village was razed to the ground.

The Kuki Students’ Organisation of Delhi-NCR has termed the entire incident as a “pre-planned crime” orchestrated by the Tangkhul-led Isaak Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM).

Situation remained tensed in Kamjong district following a clash between Chassad (Kuki) and Sampui villages after more than 100 houses belonging to the former village were burnt down. More than ten vehicles were also charred to ashes.

“This savage act also brings back to live the memory of Tangkhul-led NSCN-IM’s ethnic cleansing and genocide upon the innocent Kukis in the 1990s,” said a statement issued by the organisation.

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“The Kuki Inpi, Delhi & NCR and the Kuki Students’ Organisation Delhi &NCR condemn in strongest term the dastardly and cowardly act of burning down of more than hundred houses of Chassad, a Kuki village including a school on the morning of 16th March, 2020 by the Tangkhul mob of Kamjong and Sampui villages backed by fully armed Tangkhul led insurgence-NSCN-IM which is currently under talks with the Government of India. The beastly act has left hundreds of villagers homeless including women, children and the aged,” read a statement issued by the Kuki Students' Organisation, Delhi-NCR.

The student body has demanded immediate rehabilitation of the Chassad vllagers, who had been left homeless. It has demanded “to lodge an FIR, arrest the perpetrators and punish them by taking stringent action against the barbaric gangs of Tangkhul-led NSCN-IM and all those Kamjong and Samsui mob involved in burning down of Chassad village, to immediately provide shelter, relief and rehabilitation to all the homeless Chassad villagers.

The Kuki student body has also demanded immediate suspension of the Commanding Officer of 42nd Assam Riffles, Superintendent of Police of Chassad Police Station and Officer-in-Charge for letting the Tangkhul mob burn down the houses unabated right under their nose as it is complete dereliction of duty to serve and maintain peace for which they have been posted.

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Section 144 was imposed following the clash in Kamjong, thereby prohibiting assembly of five or more persons, carrying of lethal weapons such as sticks, stones, firearms and movement of people out of their houses in Chassad, Kamjong and along the main road of Sampui area. The Manipur Government had also suspended internet services till March 18.

According to police, the tension between two communities broke out after some unknown miscreants burnt down the jhum cultivation area of around 30 acres belonging to Chassad, which is around one km north from Chassad Police Station on Sunday. Villagers have not approached the Police station with a written complaint regarding the incident. However, the Police station has registered a Suo-Moto case in connection with the incident.

The locals of Chassad village blocked the Ukhrul-Kamjong road on Monday morning upon which the people of the Sampui village requested the protesters to stop the road block. However, the former denied saying that they would not withdraw the blockade until the miscreants involved in burning of the Jhum cultivation area were produced.

Clashes broke out between the two villages after a group of people started burning down the houses of Chassad village after evacuating the villagers. In the process, over 100 houses and about ten vehicles were burnt down.

ALSO READ: Internet Suspended in Manipur for 3 Days amid Violent Clashes in Kamjong

Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO) based in Chennai has also condemned the burning down of more than 100 houses and properties, and “shamelessly looting Chassad Village, Kamjong District, Manipur by the devilish minded Tangkhul people on the 16th March, 2020 under the shadow of the Tangkhul-led NSCN(IM).”

KSO Chennai has also requested the Manipur State Government and Central Government to take necessary action on the concerned officer(s) of Chassad Police Station and the 42nd Assam Rifles for “simply ignoring the arson of the Chassad Village right under their nose.”

Investigation Committee Formed

Meanwhile, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Tuesday said that the situation in Chassad village of Kamjong district has been brought under control and the Government has constituted a committee to enquire into the events leading to the incident of violence.

While addressing in a press conference, Singh said that the three-member committee headed by Additional Chief Secretary Dr. Suhel Akhtar would submit a report within ten days. The committee which comprises other two members namely DIG Smt. Achin Haokip and Joint Secreary Shri Luckyson Ngamsha Kashung would also try to identity the culprits responsible for the incident and enquire into the steps taken up by security forces to control/prevent the incident. He further said that the committee would also suggest measures to prevent similar future incidents.

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