The United Naga Council (UNC) and the Coordination Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) in a joint statement on Wednesday condemned the “cool blooded murder” of one Marangir Chiru of Kangchup Chiru village on July 15 by “an armed miscreant”. The two organizations also said the entire communities are aghast by the “inhumane act of violence meted out against the innocent civilian and we are deeply saddened by the loss of a precious life.”
The statement said that the COCOMI came forward “expressing their regret over the incident by owning up its moral responsibility.” The COCOMI also expressed “their utmost concern to the victim’s family and the community by ensuring their best cooperation to resolve the matter amicably.”
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, loved ones and dear ones and we stand in solidarity with them during this difficult time,” the joint statement of the UNC and the COCOMI further said.
Stating that they stand for justice for the victim and his family, the two organizations said, “We had categorically pressed the authority to book all the culprits involved and investigate this heinous crime thoroughly and bring the matter in the limelight of justice and ensure the welfare and future security of the victim’s family”.
The joint statement also said that the matter had been resolved amicably as per the Naga customary law and appealed to both communities to refrain from further escalation in regard to this unfortunate incident.
The two apex bodies also appealed to all concerned to maintain peace and tranquility amongst the communities.
UNC, COCOMI meets Manipur CM
Meanwhile, representatives of the CCOCOMI and the UNC met with the Chief Minister of Manipur, N Biren Singh, at his secretariat today.
The Chief Minister later shared on X, “Various pressing issues, including the recent tragic incident involving the killing of Merangir Mechek, a resident of Kangchup village, were discussed.
This unfortunate incident has been resolved with the support and cooperation of COCOMI and UNC, he said.
“A suspected individual involved in the murder has been apprehended, and we are working to ensure that all others involved in this heinous act will be brought to justice and punished accordingly”, he added.
According to a Northeast Today report, a man from Kangchup Chiru, identified as Merangir Chiru (47), succumbed to his injuries after being assaulted by cadres of the KCP (PWG) at Kangchup Chingkhong on Monday. Following this tragic event, Manipur Police initiated extensive combing operations to apprehend those responsible.
The body of Merangir Chiru is currently at the RIMS mortuary in Imphal. His family and villagers have stated they will reclaim the body once the perpetrators are caught, it was reported.
Kuki Inpi Manipur condemns
The Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) has strongly condemned the alleged murder of Marangir Chiru. The murder, KIM said, allegedly carried out by radical armed Meitei militias suspected to be members of the Arambai Tenggol, has shocked the community.
A disturbing video that circulated on social media showed Chiru being tortured and interrogated by his captors. The video suggests that he was accused of being an informer for the Kuki-Zo tribal community and forced to confess under duress to taking Rs. 20,000 as a service charge from the Kuki-Zo, KIM said in a press release.
Marangir, a former leader of the Kangchup Tribal Youth Organisation—the apex body of Kuki and Naga Tribal Youth Organizations in the Kangchup area—a theologian, and a devout Christian, had no connection to the ongoing Kuki-Zo and Meitei conflict. KIM asserted that the accusations against the victim by the Arambai Tenggol are baseless and serve only as a cover for their inhumane acts.
KIM further said that this incident is part of a troubling pattern of threats and violence by the Arambai Tenggol and Meitei terrorists against minority tribals.
“On September 16, 2023, one Serto Thangthang Kom (41), a soldier in the Defence Service Corps (DSC) on leave, was abducted from his residence at Tarung in Imphal and was shot dead by Meitei terrorists. Again, on July 15, 2023, Lucy Maring, a 55-year-old woman with mental illness, was also shot dead by armed Meitei terrorists. The list goes on,” the press release added. (With Ukhrul Times inputs)
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