IMPHAL, August 31: The United Committee Manipur has strongly condemned the killing of two individuals by security force during the mass protest rally at Ukhrul Town.
According to a release of the Committee, the two deceased individuals identified as Ayopam Ramror, 39 of Tuinem Village, Ukhrul and VS Ramkashing, 29 were part of the rally organised by UNC resisting the CRPC-144 order, the deployment of the excessive State security forces and to pressurise the government to hasten the Indo-Naga peace talk.
The Committee also shared the sorrows of the aggrieved families.
The committee has stated that instead of setting up CRPC-144 at selected areas, the government must put up Security Outpost for Law and Order under Home Department, General Policy, it said.
The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has vehemently condemned the killing of two innocent civilians and injuring many people at Ukhrul town.
In a press release, the federation questions the State government about the rationale behind the promulgation of section 144 CrPC and still continuing to impose the section when the public has sought to do away with the 144 CrPC.
It said yesterday’s incident has clearly shown the intention of the State government that the Manipur commandos and IRB are deployed in the district not for safeguarding but for militarisation and bring fear psychosis in the minds of the peace loving citizens.
“There is not an iota of reason to open fire randomly and bombard the town when the public is democratically carrying out peaceful procession,” it said.
Further according to the statement, the NSF has also asked the State government to give enough compensation to the demised families and also take care of all the medical needs for the injured persons and further demanded the Central government to set up an independent enquiry body to thoroughly investigate the incident and punish the concerned officer(s) responsible for the mayhem at Ukhrul.
The Autonomous District Council (ADC), Ukhrul has also strongly condemned the armed aggression against the peace initiative rally organised by UNC to remove CrPC 144 in Ukhrul and other districts.
In a separate press release, it said the government of Manipur led by Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam who is also in charge of the Home department are responsible for the incident and the State government should immediately remove the 144 CrPC and State forces from Ukhrul.
The Committee on Human Rights (COHR), Manipur has also expressed its strong condemnation on the killing of Ramkashing Vashi and Mayopam Ramroar and injuring many other by the security forces during a peace rally demanding removal of CrPC 144 in Ukhrul.
In a press release the organisation has stated that it was the negligence of the government which led to occurrence of the unfortunate incident and further appealed to the government to take up actions according to the law against the security personnel who were responsible for the incident and end up the clash between civilian and government in a democratic way.
The North East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS) has also said in a press release that it strongly condemns the killing of two protesters in Ukhrul, Manipur.
The State government’s attitude towards its minorities is very conspicuous seeing incidents like these, it said before adding that it will always stand against such oppression in any part of the world.
Continuing further on the August 30 incident at Ukrul, it said all the protesters were unarmed and were participating in a peaceful protest when Manipur police commandos and jawans of the India Reserve Battalion fired on the protesters indiscriminately.
“If such incidents re-occur NEFIS will call a nation-wide protest against the Manipur state’s oppression on people’s movement,” said the statement.
Our Kangpokpi Correspondent adds:
The All Tribal Students’ Union, Manipur today made a trip to Ukhrul in connection with the August 30 incident where two persons were allegedly killed and several others injured in police firing.
The Emboi Serto group of the ATMSUM asserted that the incident was immaculately inhuman.
The student body president Emboi Serto said that not a single security personnel, forget about IRB and Commandos, even a single state police force whom the state Government christened ‘Law enforcer” could not be seen anywhere today at Ukhrul before adding that only Army and Para military force were seen.
The ATSUM team visited Ukhrul district hospital and met with the injured persons admitted there and had a meeting with several civil bodies as well continued Emboi.
He said that after thorough evaluation the incident happened to be totally inhuman.
Emboi also said that the union is seriously concerned over the incident and the brutality of the State force towards the people and the tribal in particular.
He added that it is inconceivably hard to live in a place like Manipur where law enforcers turn to law breakers and protectors turn to destructors.
While ATSUM robustly condemned the rough treatment of the security forces it will cling with and endorse any positive and justifiable groups or individual working for justice of the Ukhrul victims, Emboi added.
