Mokokchung, 16 July (MTNews): The United Naga Council (UNC), Manipur has expressed deep dismay over the cold-blooded murder of a Maring Naga woman at Sawombung in Imphal East district on July 15, Saturday, allegedly by Arambai Tenggol.
The apex Naga body in Manipur stated that the it is aghast to learn of the cold blooded murder of one Lucy Marem, aged about 57 years, hailing from Beaulahram Village, Pallel, Chandel District in the evening of July 15 at Sawombung (Ukhrul road), Imphal East District.
Ms Marem was forcefully apprehended by the Meira Paibis (Women Torch Bearers) and handed over to the Meitei’s Arambai Tenggol, a newly formed private militia known for its notoriety during the ongoing conflict in Manipur, the UNC said.
Expressing their condemnation for this barbaric act committed on an innocent Nagas woman knowing her identity as Naga, the UNC said, “It is unimaginable for a women organization like meira paibis who profess to be torch bearer of peace partaking in acts of killings.”
“Since the beginning of this unfortunate conflict between Meiteis and Kukis, the Nagas have maintained that peace must prevail and have lent our might toward this end. Vested interest parties who wish to drag us into this conflict will not be spared and our patience and accommodating acts of the recent past should not be taken as a sign of weakness by all concerned who have provoked us, destroying our properties, torturing and humiliating us during the present conflict at different places and times,” UNC said.
UNC further said that it seriously views this incident and demanded that the state government must immediately constitute a Judiciary Inquiry Committee and arrest those perpetrators of the crime, including those Meira Paibis who are complicit in the act of crime. “Exemplary punishment should be initiated upon the culprits,” it demanded.
The UNC demanded that “Cold blooded killing of Naga sister Lucy Maring must be brought in the limelight of justice befittingly as per the Naga Customary Law.”
It further demanded that the “Meitei Civil Society Organizations will be equally held responsible for this despicable act, hence their role and position must be made known to all concerned.”
To express their resentment over the brutal murder and pay tribute to the innocent victim, the UNC has announced a twelve-hour total shutdown in all Naga areas of Manipur from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm on Monday, 17 July. The UNC warned that if their demands are not fulfilled within 48 hours, further course of action will be initiated.
Manipur police arrests 9 accused in Maring Naga woman murder case; 19 others arrested over torching of 3 trucks at Sekmai
Meanwhile, Manipur Police said it has arrested 9 persons including 5 women in connection with the murder of Lucy Moman, a Maring Naga woman in Imphal East district (Ukhrul road) on 15 July. Police also said that two arms, a 303 rifle and a 9mm country made pistol as well as five ammunition and one car were also seized in connection with the case.
Further, Manipur Police have arrested 19 people in connection with the arson and torching of 3 trucks in Imphal West on Saturday.
A police source said that the trucks were used to transport LPG cylinders and that the miscreants set them on fire on Saturday around 10:30 am. All the 19 accused were produced before the Duty Magistrate Imphal West on Sunday and 17 accused were remanded in police custody for four days, and 2 were referred to Juvenile Justice Board, while raids are continuing to arrest other accused persons, said Manipur Police.