IMPHAL, AUG 27 (NPN): Following the killing of four Nagas in Kangpokpi district this morning, the United Naga Council (UNC) has called a 12-hour bandh on August 28 from 6 pm in “Naga areas” under its jurisdiction, reports Newmai News Network.
The United Naga Council calls it a ‘genna’ observation. During the stipulated period of ‘genna’, all the vehicular movement, shops and other business establishments, government offices, and private and government institutions shall remain closed. However, emergency and board/common examination shall be exempted, the UNC added.
The UNC accused the Kuki National Front (KNF-P), Kuki National Front (KNF) and Kuki National Army (KRA) of attacking the Naga civilians.
The UNC, in the strongest possible terms, condemned the “barbaric and calculated attack on innocent Naga civilians” belonging to the Liangmai community between Makui Ashang to Makui Thanamba villages along the IT Road in Kangpokpi.
It was reported that at around 8:30 am on Thursday, armed Kuki militants under Suspension of Operation (SoO), belonging to KNF (P), KNF and KRA under the command of Jangboi Kipgen, Home Secretary, KNF/UPF, ambushed and attacked “innocent Naga civilians between Makui Ashang and Makui Thanamba village, an area that serves as an important lifeline for Naga communities living along the IT Road”, the UNC said, adding , “This premeditated and cowardly act has resulted in the tragic loss of four precious and promising young Naga lives including former vice president, Liangmai Naga Council (LNC), leaving one critically injured and one still missing”.
The victims of “this heinous crime” have been identified as Wisobou Charenamai, chairman of Chawangkining Village Authority and former vice president, LNC; Tadsongbou Ringkangmai, founder and principal of Right Path School, T. Khullen; Mariakdibou Wijunamai, executive member of Makui Youth Club; and Anil Wijunamai, executive member of Makui Youth Club while the injured have been identified as Gaikamang Ringkangmai. According to the UNC, one Japou MK, a student leader from Thonglang Akutpa village miraculously escaped from the tragedy.
The United Naga Council expressed its profound sorrows and deepest anguish over the loss of these precious lives.
The UNC also registered its strong resentment against the complete security failure leading to the death of 4 Liangmai Naga civilians along IT Road, Kangpokpi, “appearing to be a sheer discriminatory security deployment by the government and letting loose Kuki militants under Suspension of Operation (SoO) who are under payroll of the government”.
The UNC demanded that the concerned authorities immediately intervene, book the perpetrators, and deliver justice at the earliest. The Naga body said such acts of terror must not go unpunished. Further, the UNC demanded the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case of this heinous crime.
The UNC then said the Naga people must seriously view this “calculated escalation of the situation being stirred up by the Kuki militants under the covert support of unseen forces”. It added, “This is a direct challenge to peace, the Indo-Naga peace process and to the very existence of Nagas in our ancestral lands. We must remain vigilant and stand united to defend ourselves from such external threats”.
