The United Naga Council (UNC) has called for a 12-hour shutdown across Naga areas in Manipur from 6 a.m. on Monday in protest against the brutal murder of Lucy Marem.
In a press note, UNC demanded that the Manipur government immediately constitute a Judiciary Inquiry Committee and arrest the perpetrators, including those Meira Paibis who were complicit in the act of crime, besides giving exemplary punishment to the culprits. It further demanded that justice should be delivered as per Naga customary law. UNC threatened to initiate further course of action in the event of non-fulfilment of its demands within 48 hours.
Declaring that Meitei civil society organisations too would be equally held responsible for this despicable act, UNC demanded that they should make their role and position known to all concerned. The council said it was aghast at the cold-blooded murder of Lucy Marem of Narum (Beaulahram) village, Chandel district, on July 15 evening at Sawombung (Ukhrul road), allegedly by Arambai Tenggol.
UNC alleged that she was forcefully apprehended by Meira Paibis (women torch bearers) and handed over to Arambai Tenggol, the newly-formed private militia reportedly known for notoriety during the present conflict in Manipur. It was unimaginable for a women organisation like Meira Paibis that professed to be torchbearer of peace partaking in acts of killings, UNC stated.
UNC condemned the barbaric act committed on the innocent Naga despite knowing her identity, pointing out that since the beginning of this unfortunate conflict between Meiteis and Kukis, Nagas had maintained that peace must prevail and lent their might toward this end.
UNC asserted that vested interest parties who wish to drag the Nagas into the conflict would not be spared and warned that the patience and accommodating acts of the Nagas should not be taken as a sign of weakness by all concerned who had provoked the community, destroyed their properties, and tortured and humiliated them during the conflict at different places and times.
