IMPHAL, September 18: Many have condemned the September 17 evening bomb blast at Ukhrul town which left two dead and others injured.
The United Naga Council, Naga Women’s Union and the All Naga Students’ Association have issued a joint press release condemning the blast.
Sosonao Tangva, daughter of Wungpam and AS Dinah, former president of Tangkhul Shanao Long, both of Nungbi Khullen were killed in the blast.
Ukhrul had been recently in the news over a series of violent incidents starting from the killing of ADC member Ngalangzar Malue near Finch Corner, Ukhrul leading to the arrest of NSCN (IM) cadres and imposition of CrPC Sec 144.
A public rally was held on August 30 to protest the enforcement of the town by State security forces, during which two protestors were killed in police firing. This was followed by indefinite blockades and two simultaneous ambushes on State security personnel returning from Ukhrul killing one personnel and injuring two others.
The joint statement of the Naga bodies said, “A young girl, full of plans and promises for the future and a valued member of the community, who had given leadership to society in her time have fallen prey to an act of terrorism, which is alien to Naga culture and way of life.”
Any form of terrorism, be it by State or no-State actors is most condemnable, it said.
The statement further made “a clarion call for collective vigilance and the conscientious involvement of each and every Naga to weed out such destructive acts and perpetrators from our society.”
The UNC, NWU and ANSAM reach out through this joint public statement to the bereft parents, siblings, children, relatives and friends of the dear departed Sosonao and Dinah with our heartfelt sympathies and condolences, it said.
The United NGOs Misssion-Manipur has also condemned the blast and said it sincerely extend its solidarity to the departed souls and bereaved family members.
During the last couple of months, during to an ensuing conflict, altogether seven persons have been killed in Ukhrul district alone, it said.
While asserting that planting a bomb at a public place is extremely serious concern for all, it said a bomb does not know who their targets are.
Amy casualty of civilians amounts to crime against humanity and liable to be investigated under the International Humanitarian Law, it said.
Meanwhile, the Tangkhul Scholars’ Association has also condemned the blast.
“What happened is horrible, abominable and disgusting act. Such act of cowardice has no place in civilised society and no justification whatsoever for this act.”
Meanwhile, the Centre For Organisation Research and Education (CORE) Manipur has also vehemently condemned the bomb blast in the evening of September 17 at around 5:30PM in front of Neetu Hardware Store, Viewland in Ukhrul under Ukhrul district in Manipur as an outright act of cowardice, terrorism and crime against humanity.
CORE believes that this brutal situation is too much to bear any longer and the intent all too questionable, it said in a press release.
It further condole the deaths of A S. Dinah, former president of Tangkhul Shanao Long, and her niece Lansophy Tangvah.
Coming close on the heels of an extended period of hardship and violence from July till early September, the peoples of Ukhrul are hardly out of mourning and bereavement, it said before adding that planting of a bomb in the middle of a town where civilians have only recently been able to pursue their normal activities speaks volumes of an inhuman conspiracy where innocent lives are considered expendibles and intensification of almost seven decades of conflict and human rights abuses of indigenous peoples in Manipur as unavoidable collaterals.
“CORE urges everyone, particularly government, to desist from actions that can only lead to further escalations in a vexed situation, and constructively and sincerely engage with all sections in the polity towards a lasting peace in Manipur and the region,” it said.