Asem Bhakta Singh, Special Correspondent North East
Imphal: (Waaari Singbul Network ) In the wake of the intensified onslaughts on state police commandos and innocent civvies by suspected Kuki militants in restive Manipur, education minister Th Basantakumar on Friday said the government is all prepared to give fitting replies to the militants.
The militants, in their stepped up attacks in the last couple of days, killed at least seven persons, including two commandos and four villagers and a village defence volunteer.
On the sidelines of paying state tribute to the lifeless body of commando T Saileshwor killed at the border town of Moreh on Wednesday at Manipur police memorial complex at 1st BN Manipur Rifles in Imphal, Basantakumar said “As known worldwide, attacking civilians is an act of terrorist.”
“Fighting among combatants is another thing. From our government’s side and the armed forces’ side fitting reply will be given to these terrorists,” added Basantakumar, who also hold the law and legislative affairs portfolio.
On the other hand, a local group, while claiming that Sikh Regiment personnel deployed at Bishnupur district’s Ningthoukhong area are in the know of Thursday’s killing of 4 civilians there, on Friday demanded the government to replace them with state police within 24 hours.
Suspected Kuki militants barged into Ningthoukhong Kha Khunou village and killed the four – Thiyam Somen (54), Oinam Bamoijao (61), his son Oinam Manitomba (35) and Ningthoujam Nabadwip ( 38) in the afternoon. Their bodies are currently being kept at the mortuary of RIMS hospital here for autopsy.
Leaders of the self-explanatory “Joint Action Committee (JAC) on brutal killing on 4 civilians at Ningougkhong Kha Khunou by Kuki-Zo Narco terrorists,” said that they would not claim the four’s bodies for performing last rites if the army personnel are not removed from Ningthoukhong.
JAC convenor RK Tombisana warned of launching agitations if the army personnel fail to hand over the culprits within the stipulated period to the state government.
Thinungei Zilla Parishad member Oinam Joychandra, stated that a few minutes after some Sikh Regiment personnel left the spot after fetching water from a supply scheme at the Ningthoukhong village, the militants intruded there and gunned down the four innocent villagers.
Meanwhile, two persons from Ningthoukhong,who were rumored of missing since Friday morning, were found safely at a nearby paddy filed in the afternoon, said Bishnipur SP K Meghachandra .
