TSA condemns Moreh terror attack, demands stringent actions against perpetrators

14th July 2018

The Thadou Students' Association, General Headquarters (TSA-GHQ) condemns in the strongest term the premeditated savage terror attack at civilian residential houses at Gamnom Veng, Ward Number 2, Moreh at 2 am on 13 July by unidentified heavily armed assailants, suspected to be a Kuki militant group.

The assailants numbering about ten or more used sophisticated weapons including automatic rifles, lethod bombs and hand grenades to attack several homes including that of Thongminlun Haokip, Thongmang Touthang, Phalneng and several others. Many properties in the homes were destroyed in the attack in which over 100 rounds of bullets were fired and lethod bombs and hand grenades lobbed into the houses. The attackers also assaulted Mr M Paokhogin Haokip, Lambu, ADC Moreh.

One of the family homes that came under severe attack was where Mr. Thongminlun Haokip, President of TSA Moreh block, his pregnant wife and two children both below five years old live. They were all woken up from their sleep and petrified by the heavy firing and bombing. All the child victims of this terror attack have been heavily traumatized due to the impact of the attack. This is like an unprovoked war declared and fought by terrorists against innocent and helpless children and women. This mindless terror attack should be condemned by all right thinking citizens and organizations.

The unprovoked firing and bombing that woke up Moreh town while the rest of the country were asleep lasted for more than 45 minutes, but the security forces, Assam Rifles and Manipur Police, stationed only half a kilometer away from the scene, went to the spot only after the firing and bombing had stopped.

Why had not the security forces rushed to neutralize the assailants? Fortunately, despite the premeditated colossal attack to inflict maximum casualty and deaths, there was no serious casualty, but this could have caused deaths and heavy casualty to dozens of people including, children who were inside the houses that came under attack.

The armed militant group responsible for this horrible terror attack must clarify to the public why they carried out such devilish attack in the community. The government must also clarify why they continue to allow some armed group/s to continue their criminal, anti-social and terror activities to the detriment of peace and public safety, and not taken any effective preventative or deterrent measures.

For justice in the incident and for lasting peace and security in and around Moreh, the government authorities must take stringent punitive actions against the perpetrators, immediately arrest all those involved in the attack and the masterminds and bring them to justice and also remove them permanently from Moreh and its surrounds.

The government must provide necessary assistance to the affected anguished families, for the loss of properties in the attacked and also provide trauma support to them. Otherwise, TSA will be forced to launch intense agitations until these actions are effectively taken up and justice delivered in a timely manner.

(Kamsanglen Singsit)
Secretary Information & Publicity
Thadou Students' Association