Imphal/ Churachandpur: A man belonging to the Meitei community was shot dead after being abducted by suspected Kuki militants in Churachandpur district, in a fresh escalation of the tensions in restive Manipur, police said on Thursday.
Mayanglambam Rishikanta Singh was abducted from his home in the Tuibong area on Wednesday and shot dead in the vicinity of Natjang village, a senior officer said.
The kidnappers are suspected to be members of the United Kuki National Army (UNKA), a non-signatory to the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement.
The SoO pact was signed between the Centre, the Manipur government and dozens of Kuki-Zo militant groups.
Singh, who hailed from Kakching Khunou in Kakching district, was married to Chingnu Haokip of Churachandpur and assumed a tribal name, Ginminthang. He returned to Churachandpur from Nepal on January 19, according to local sources.
He was allowed to stay with his wife, a Kuki, by some local groups, they said.
The deceased’s father, Mayanglambam Tombi Singh, told reporters, “After arriving from Nepal, he had been staying in Churachandpur for a few weeks at his wife’s place. He never informed of his whereabouts. We have been told that he was abducted by three armed men on Wednesday evening. His wife was also taken with him, but was later pushed out from a moving vehicle.”
Protests erupted in Kakching district on Thursday as people in Kakching Khunou Lamkhai area burnt tyres on roads, stopped vehicles and staged a sit-in against the killing of the Meitei man.
Demonstrations were also held in parts of Wangkhei in Imphal East district, condemning the killing.
Kukis and Meiteis do not venture into each other’s areas after the violence broke out in May 2023, leaving the state deeply divided on ethnic lines. Over 260 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in the hostilities.
The militants abducted both the man and his wife, and took them towards Natjang in the Henglep police station area, where he was suspected to be shot dead, the officer said.
The wife was later set free, he said.
A purported video clip of the chilling incident went viral on social media, showing Singh begging for his life with folded hands before he was shot by the armed men.
The body recovered from the Natjang village was brought to the morgue of the district hospital around 1.30 am, the police said.
A suo motu case was registered, and efforts are underway to nab those involved, the officer said.
BJP state unit president Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi condemned the killing of the Meitei man and said acts of violence have no place in society.
Devi, in a post on X, said, “I condemn the tragic killing of Mayanglambam Rishikanta Singh, son of Mayanglambam Tombi Singh of Kakching Khunou, allegedly by anti-national elements. Such acts of violence have no place in our society and go against the values of peace, harmony, and humanity.”
She also appealed to “all sections of society to remain united, uphold the rule of law, and work collectively to strengthen our social fabric and ensure a peaceful and secure future for all”.
Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity Convenor Y Dhiren told reporters, “We strongly condemn the killing by Chin-Kuki narco terrorists. For many months, we have been trying to restore peace by communicating with different communities. It is very unfortunate that the criminal acts of Kuki militants are not being controlled but rather allowed.”
The Joint Action Committee, formed in connection with the killing, demanded immediate arrests of those involved in the criminal activity and handing over the case to the National Investigation Agency.
JAC convenor Khumukcham Pradeep Kumar claimed, ” The government is not able to control armed miscreants, and thus the administration of the state should be handed over to a popular government.”
He also said joint protests would be held with other civil society groups in the state if the demands are not met.
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