Muivah explained, “We always try to caution our armed forces to restrict their firing, which is a standard practice. However, when they are fired upon with sophisticated weapons, retaliation is part of our mandate. Reinforcements from Assam Rifles, CRPF, and the police have been deployed, and combing operations are underway.”Responding to claims by some Kuki-Zo organisations that the 10 deceased individuals were “village volunteers,” Muivah countered that, based on the weapons recovered and the military-style clothing found on the individuals, “we can say they were either armed militants or armed miscreants.””They were there to instigate violence, but due to the actions of the CRPF, the scale of violence was controlled,” he added.The six missing persons were identified as Yumrembam Rani Devi (60), Telem Thoibi Devi (31) and her daughter Telem Thajamanbi Devi (8), Laishram Heithoibi Devi (25) and her two children Laishram Chingkheinganba Singh (two-and-a-half-years old) and Laishram Lamnganba Singh (10 months).Meanwhile, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum, another Kuki-Zo organisation, alleged that the 10 “village volunteers” had been “ambushed and murdered.” On Tuesday, Kuki-Zo tribal communities observed a 13-hour “total shutdown” in their areas to pay respect to the 10 killed.In Jiribam district, an uneasy calm prevails, with prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC still in effect since Monday.Meanwhile, schools and colleges were closed, markets shut, and vehicles remained off the roads as the hill areas witnessed a total shutdown.No untoward incident was reported from anywhere in the Kuki-dominated hill areas during the shutdown, officials said.Various Kuki-Zo organisations sought a probe into the events that unfolded in Jiribam.In protest of the “inhumane actions” of the CRPF in Jiribam, the Kuki Students’ Organisation issued a “notice” on Tuesday, warning that “no CRPF personnel shall be allowed to leave their camp premises.”They have demanded a thorough, court-monitored investigation into what they described as a “fake encounter.”In a statement, the Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO) said, “…no CRPF personnel shall be allowed to leave their camp premises. Any CRPF personnel found in violation of this notice shall do so at their own risk and responsibility. This directive will remain enforced until the CRPF publicly acknowledges and apologises for their barbaric actions in Jiribam.”The Zomi Students’ Federation (ZSF) said, “In light of the inhumane actions of the CRPF in Jiribam yesterday, in which 11 of our youths were treacherously murdered, we announce a social boycott of the CRPF. We demand an impartial court-monitored investigation into what can be best described as ‘fake encounter’.”The Hmar Students’ Association (HSA), a part of the larger Kuki-Zo community, demanded a CBI investigation into the incident and “deployment of neutral peacekeeping forces.”
Source link
