ANNOUNCING THE arrest of four persons by the CBI for their alleged involvement in the killing of two Imphal residents, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh said on Sunday that the accused had been taken to Guwahati by a special flight.
His announcement triggered protests by Kuki-Zomi organisations, which referred to the arrests as “abduction”. The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum declared an indefinite shutdown starting from 10 am on Monday.
Hijam Linthoingami (17) and Phijam Hemjit (20), both Meiteis, went missing on July 6 this year. Photos of their bodies surfaced on September 25, leading to violent protests.
The four who have been arrested are all Kukis. “We have arrested four persons identified as Paominlun Haokip, S Malsawn Haokip, Lhingneichong Baite and Tinneilhing Henthang. CBI had registered two cases on August 23 on the request of the Manipur government and took over the investigation of these cases earlier registered by the State police on the complaints of parents of minor victim. During the investigation of these cases, four persons have been arrested,” a CBI spokesperson said.
“The arrested accused will be produced before the competent court in Guwahati. Two minor children, who accompanied one of the arrested accused (who is their mother) during transit from Imphal to Guwahati, have been handed over to the district child protection officer, Kamrup, for their welfare, protection and care. No legal action has been taken against the minors,” the spokesperson said.
Earlier in the day, briefing the media on the arrests, the Chief Minister had said the accused were nabbed from Henglep area of Churachandpur district in a joint operation by the CBI and a team of state and Central forces.
“Since violence rekindled across the valley district, a team led by CBI special director, with the help of state and Central forces, had been conducting a series of operations to nab the culprits. The State will not leave any stone unturned to track down others who may be involved in the students’ killing, and ensure that a befitting punishment is given to all,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kuki-Zomi organisations demanded the release all the arrested within 48 hours. They threatened a “more intense agitation” in “all hill districts of Manipur” if the accused are not released.
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The Joint Students’ Body – a federation of various Kuki-Zomi student organisations – claimed that the accused had been “abducted” from the area between Kangvai and Molhoi villages while they were on their way to Churachandpur on Sunday morning.
They threatened that “in the future, any person with arms and moving around in plainclothes will be stopped and action will be taken against them”, and appealed to the public to “take action… as they see fit” if they see people in plainclothes “behaving in a suspicious manner.”
“We would also like to voice our frustration at the selective targeting of Kuki-Zomi-Mizo people in the investigation of cases by even central agencies. We will oppose the biased selection of police cases involving our people while the numerous cases of heinous crimes against our people are left behind,” they said.
