IMPHAL, March 2: The Joint Action Committee formed in connection with the alleged killing of assistant teacher Thongkhogin alias Ts Agin Haokip has reacted against the caretaker Khurmi Region of the NSCN (IM)’s clarification regarding the outfit’s involvement in the incident leading to the death of the teacher.
A statement of the JAC signed by its convenor Mangboi Haokip said the involvement of the NSCN (IM) is very clear as the victim himself before breathing his last had told his wife that a cadre of the NSCN (IM) Thangminlal Aimol son of Lianneithang Aimol hailing from Aimol Satu Village, along with his two friends namely Sanboi son of (L) Chongneikhup, ex village chief of Aimol Satu and Groundthang, son of Kolsokhup of Aimol Khunyai Village along with some unidentified armed cadres of the NSCN (IM) had beaten him at the residence of a Kargil Martyr at Aimol Satu Village.
Continuing his clarification, he said on the next day of the incident, the agitating mob in a peaceful way took the dead body to Aimol Satu Village to demand the handover of the culprit but while reaching the village ground they were fired upon with automatic rifles from the said house which is also the home of Thangminlal Aimol.
Following the indiscriminate firing, a team of Manipur Police led by Addl SP Chandel rushed to the spot and retaliated resulting in almost 20 minutes of firing.
While, the police were chasing them, the angry mob then burn down the check gate of NSCN (IM) which was built in the village along the Old Burma Road, houses which are hideouts of the NSCN (IM), it said.
The statement continued that the people had never killed any domestic animals of the village as published in the local dailies.
Claiming that the allegation made by Th Neilkhup Aimol against the mob that they carried arms is baseless, it said had the mob carried arms, the mob would had not remain mute spectators but could have killed the NSCN (IM) cadres who were at the said house.
The statement also clarified that the mob were never instigated by any outfit, rather the people had gone to Aimol Satu Village to settle the case peacefully even after repeated torture, harassment, or even killing of the villagers.
It said the JAC appeals to the concerned not to issue such false and cheap allegations against the agitating mob, and instead to surrender the accused to the government machinery at the earliest so as to bring normalcy in the area in the true spirit of peace as desired by all.