Meitei Alliance called for immediate arrests, an NIA or SIT probe, and abrogation of the SoO agreement following the KZC's statement on the killing of six Liangmai Naga civilians.
Imphal, June 27: The Meitei Alliance on Saturday called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the abduction and killing of six Liangmai Naga civilians, saying recent public statements by the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) have reinforced the need for swift legal action and a comprehensive investigation into a series of killings linked to the ongoing conflict in Manipur.
In a statement, the organisation referred to remarks made by the KZC chairman and spokesperson during a press conference on June 25, in which they acknowledged that Kuki-Zo elements were responsible for the abduction and killing of the six Naga civilians. The Alliance said the statements heightened the responsibility of the Government of India and law enforcement agencies to ensure accountability.
The Meitei Alliance alleged that the recovery of the victims' mutilated and dismembered bodies, along with claims by surviving abductees that they had been blindfolded and unknowingly fed meat later feared to have been human flesh, reflected the extreme brutality of the crime. It said that if those allegations are established through investigation, the acts would represent some of the gravest crimes imaginable.
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The organisation maintained that no public explanation, apology or expression of regret could lessen the seriousness of the killings or replace the need for justice. It said the reported acknowledgment by KZC leaders should be followed by impartial and decisive action by the authorities.
According to the Alliance, the killing of the six Liangmai Naga civilians forms part of a broader pattern of violence witnessed in Manipur over the past three years. It cited the killing of six members of a Meitei family, including women and children, in Jiribam, the abduction and murder of students Hijam Linthoingambi and Phijam Hemanjit, and the recent killing of three Thadou pastors as incidents requiring thorough investigation.
The organisation urged the Government of India to conduct a time-bound investigation, either through the National Investigation Agency (NIA) or a Special Investigation Team (SIT), into all these incidents. It said the probe should examine not only those directly involved in the crimes but also any individuals or organisations alleged to have planned, facilitated, assisted, concealed or obstructed investigations.
Among its principal demands, the Meitei Alliance called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of everyone allegedly responsible for the abduction, torture, murder and mutilation of the six Liangmai Naga civilians.
It also renewed its demand for the immediate abrogation of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with all Kuki militant groups. The Alliance alleged that the agreement has failed to achieve its objective of maintaining peace, while allowing armed groups to retain their military capabilities and undermining public confidence in the rule of law.
The statement further urged the government to ensure that no militant group, organisation or individual enjoys immunity from criminal investigation or political patronage. It stressed that all those found responsible for violent crimes should face prosecution irrespective of their affiliations.
Concluding its statement, the Meitei Alliance said the time for expressions of regret had passed and called on the Government of India to act promptly. It maintained that justice should not end with public acknowledgment of wrongdoing but should be pursued through criminal investigation, prosecution and accountability before the courts.
