Manipur: ITLF demands inquiry into firing incident in Churachandpur

Imphal: The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF), an outfit of the Kuki-Zo community has demanded to institute an inquiry leading to the death of two individuals and 25 others injured when the security forces opened fire at Churachandpur district headquarters on Thursday night.

The incident happened when several tribals were protesting against the suspension of Churachandpur police head constable Siamlalpaul after a selfie of him with “armed miscreants” went viral on social media.

The protest turned violent as two vehicles engaged in the transportation of security personnel were burnt down and the DC office was badly damaged in the attacks by the protesters.

The ITLF, in its emergency meeting at the KKL complex of Churachandpur on Friday resolved to take up legal procedures regarding those killed and injured by the security forces.

It also demanded to cancel the suspension of head constable Siamlalpaul immediately.

Inquiry should be initiated on all security force personnel, who were involved in the firing of civilians and should be punished as per the law.

All who were killed by the security forces would be considered Kuki-Zo martyrs and will be buried after all necessary actions, due procedures, and agreements with the government are completed.

The 15 February 2024 public uprising and killings by the security forces will be called “The Wall of Remembrance Massacre.”

The ITLF holds the Superintendent of Police, Churachandpur, Shivanand Surve, and the Deputy Commissioner, S. Dharun Kumar entirely responsible for the incident asking them to leave the district within 24 hours.

If the suspension of the head constable is not canceled within 24 hours and that, if the SP and DC do not leave the district within 24 hours, all government offices shall be closed.

Both the SP and DC will bear the responsibility for any untoward incidents that may fall on them.

The DC and SP should be replaced by Union Territory cadres preferably from the Kuki-Zo community by the central government.