Imphal, Nov. 16: The residents and chiefs of 19 tribal villages along the Imphal-Jiribam highway in Sadar Hills today held a meeting at New Keithelmanbi in protest against the killings by police and security forces.
The villagers resolved to launch a campaign against what they termed “fake encounter” killings. “We condemn the security forces bringing people here and killing them in custody and demand an immediate end to this,” said the first of the four resolutions adopted by the meeting.
“In the latest incident, they brought three persons to Khunglong village and killed them on November 1,” one of the village chiefs said.
The police, however, denied the allegations.
All those killed in the area by security forces were in encounters, a senior police officer said.
The villagers also protested against militants ambushing the security forces.
They alleged that after each ambush between Kotlen and New Keithelmanbi, the villagers found themselves at the receiving end.
Meira paibis (women activists) and members of other clubs also attended today’s meeting, which decided to hold a mammoth rally against violence.
The villagers will submit a memorandum to chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh, seeking all possible measures to maintain peace.
Before the rally, the villagers will stage a sit-in at New Keithelmanbi bazaar on November 23 to demand peace in the area.
The CRPF, which is deployed to guard the highway, lost eight personnel this year to ambushes at Kotlen.
“Because of the violence, we cannot move around after dark. We want peace and development here, not a killing field,” said T. Mangte, a villager.
Today’s meeting came a day after people belonging to various communities of Imphal East held a silent candlelight protest in the district.
Source: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1081117/jsp/northeast/story_10120081.jsp
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