COCOMI and JAC demand justice
COCOMI and JAC demand justice
Tensions have once again gripped violence-hit Manipur following the killing of a Meitei man, allegedly by suspected militants, in Kuki-dominated Churachandpur district. The incident has sparked widespread condemnation, protests and renewed calls for decisive intervention by the Central government to restore law and order in the state.
The victim, identified as Mayanglambam Rishikanta Singh alias Ginminthang, aged 32 and a resident of Uchan Makhong Leikai in Kakching district, was reportedly kidnapped on January 21 evening from his wife’s residence in Tuibong, Churachandpur. According to police sources, armed miscreants abducted Rishikanta and his wife around 6:30 pm and took them towards Natjang village under Henglep police station. He was suspected to have been shot dead around 9:30 pm.
Shortly after the killing, a video purportedly showing the shooting circulated widely on WhatsApp and other social media platforms, captioned “no peace no popular governments.” His body was later recovered from Natjang village and sent to the district morgue for post-mortem examination. Police registered a suo motu case and initiated efforts to identify the perpetrators, trace the source of the video, and establish the motive behind the crime.
Family sources revealed that Rishikanta had recently returned from Nepal, where he had been working for two years, and had gone to visit his Kuki wife in Churachandpur on December 19. Reports suggested that his wife had allegedly sought prior permission from the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and its Tuibong district headquarters for his visit, though the KNO denied granting any such approval.
The killing triggered protests in Kakching district on Thursday morning. Irate locals blocked roads at several points, including the Indo-Burma-Sugunu Road at Kakching Khunou Lamkhai, burning tyres and halting vehicular movement while staging sit-in demonstrations.
A public meeting that followed led to the formation of a Joint Action Committee (JAC), which submitted a memorandum to the Governor with a seven-point demand. The JAC demanded immediate arrests of those involved, handing over the case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) or Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and strict punishment under the law.
The memorandum also called for the arrest of Rishikanta’s wife, Chingu Haokip, alleging her involvement in the killing. Other demands included concrete measures to prevent recurrence of such incidents, intensive operations against Kuki militants in the hills, disciplinary action against the Superintendent of Police of Churachandpur district, and accountability of Central security forces for failing to prevent the crime. The JAC warned of intensified agitations if the demands were not met within 72 hours.
The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) strongly condemned the killing, accusing the Central government of failing to control armed militant groups despite the deployment of over 60,000 security personnel in the state.
Addressing a press conference in Imphal, COCOMI convener YK Dhiren described the incident as deeply unfortunate and reflective of a deteriorating security situation. He noted that the killing occurred at a time when civil society organizations were striving to restore peace and normalcy. He questioned the effectiveness of the large-scale deployment of Central forces, alleging that militants continued to operate freely with advanced weapons, leading to civilian casualties.
COCOMI reiterated its demand for immediate and decisive intervention by New Delhi to restore law and order, fix accountability, and prevent further civilian deaths. Dhiren stressed that the administration under President’s Rule must take the situation seriously and act firmly to safeguard citizens’ rights.
The Thadou Inpi Manipur (TIM) also condemned the killing, calling it a barbaric and premeditated attack that occurred despite the presence of security forces. TIM alleged that the murder highlighted “reckless lawlessness and brutal extremism” threatening the fragile peace in Manipur.
In its statement, TIM said the incident was not merely an attack on an individual but a direct assault on justice, public safety, and communal harmony. It demanded thorough investigation, swift identification and arrest of the perpetrators, and strict punishment under the law. TIM further urged the government to take urgent preventive measures to protect law-abiding citizens and prevent recurrence of such acts.
Expressing solidarity with the victim’s family, TIM called upon all communities to unite against terrorism, extremism, and radical violence, and to uphold values of justice, peace, and communal harmony.