Khurai people decry killing of civilians
Govt assures probe
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 10: Even as the border town of Moreh continues to reel under the impact of the series of violent incidents yesterday, the State Government has announced that a Magisterial Inquiry would be instituted to probe the incident at Moreh yesterday in which 11 persons were killed by unidentified gunmen.

While assuring that the Magisterial Inquiry would be instituted to probe the incident, Chief Minister in-charge and FCS Minister Th Debendra said that the incident should not be viewed as ethnic clashes between the Kukis and the Meiteis.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh rushed back to Imphal from Delhi on a special plane of the BSF at around 6.10 pm today to take stock of the situation.

People of Khurai protest against the killing of civilians at Moreh and the ADC of Moreh with officials taking a tour of the border town

Earlier during the day, in protest against the killing of 11 persons including five from Khurai area who had gone to the border town in search of livelihood, infuriated people of the area came out of their houses since early morning and blocked the Ukhrul and Pangei Roads and forced closure of Lamlong Market and Pureilomba Khongnangkhong Bazar.

As the agitation of the people launched under the aegis of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) formed in protest against the killing intensified, MLA of Khurai A/C Dr Ng Bijoy, Deputy Commissioner of Imphal East Y Thamkishore and Superintendent of Police L Kailun arrived to pacify the agitators and stringent security measures were taken up to avoid any untoward incident.

Along with MLA Ng Bijoy, JAC representatives also called on Chief Minister in-charge and FCS Minister Th Debendra at his quarters to discuss the situation.

Later, the Chief Minister in-charge and other MLAs attended a public meeting at the ground of Khurai Popular High School.

Addressing the meeting, Chief Minister in-charge Th Debendra assured the gathering that a Magisterial Inquiry would be instituted to probe into the circumstances leading to the unfortunate violence at Moreh.

The inquiry report is expected to be received within 15 days and based on the findings of the inquiry report, the State Government will take up necessary actions accordingly.

The Chief Minister in-charge further assured that apart from giving compensation to the bereaved families, the State Government would also discuss providing jobs to the next of kins.

While observing that the incident have hurt the sentiments of the people, the Chief Minister in-charge appealed to the people to maintain peace and not to view it as an ethnic clash between the Kukis and the Meiteis.

Instructions have been given to the police to submit a report on the alleged recovery of the bodies near the gate of the Assam Rifles post.

The demand for shifting the Assam Rifles from Moreh and replacing them with IRB personnel would also be seriously discussed after the Chief Minister arrived from Delhi, he added.

An emotionally choked public leaders who spoke during the meeting pacified the angry people by saying that taking revenge for the killing of the five people who have gone to Moreh in search of their livelihood by killing innocent Kuki people earning their daily income by selling vegetables should be avoided.

The real culprits who are behind the killing would remain scot-free, he added.

After the public meeting attended by the Chief Minister in-charge, another public meeting was jointly convened by MLA Ng Bijoy and the JAC.

The meeting demanded conduct of a judicial inquiry instead of a magisterial inquiry into the incident, removing Assam Rifles from Moreh and replacing them with IRB, finding out a permanent solution to avoid such unwanted incident in future, providing ex-gratia and Government jobs to the bereaved families.

The resolutions arrived at during the meeting was latter submitted to the Chief Minister in the form of a memorandum along with the warning that the Government should be held squarely responsible for any eventualities in case of failure of implementing these demands into action.

The five persons from Khurai area who were killed in the yesterday's violent incident are identified as Likmabam Bungo (25) of Khurai Sajor Leikai, his younger brother Bungcha (22), Oinam Nilmani (30) of Khurai Konsam Leikai, Thingbaijam Johnson alias Itomcha of Khurai Sajor Leikai and Yanglem Romesh alias Pikpa (23) of Khurai Konsam Leikai.

Arambam Tomba (60) of Khurai Chaithabi Leirak was rescued by the police.

As a pre-emptive measures toward avoiding any untoward incidents, the district administration of Imphal East has taken up stringent security arrangement.

Over and above State forces, CRPF have been deployed in Lamlong Bazar and Phureilomba Khongnangkhong Bazar area by the District Magistrate of Imphal East.