Lamka: Simultaneous rallies were held on Wednesday in Lamka, Haflong, Senvon, Chandel, and Phaitol (Jiribam) to protest the killing of three men in what is alleged to be a fake encounter by Assam Police. The Hmar Women Association General Headquarters and the Kuki Women Organization for Human Rights organized the mass protest rallies which saw thousands of participants across the two states of Manipur and Assam.
Protesters carried placards with messages such as “Say no to extra-judicial killings” and “No more cover-ups, we demand transparency in police action.” Joshua Lalrinsang’s mother, one of the deceased, stood among the protesters holding a placard that read, “Every life matters, end fake encounters now.”
Protesters held banners stating, “Mass protest rally against the 16th July Cachar fake encounter of Assam Police killing 3 Hmar youths, we demand an independent judicial inquiry.”
The Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights and Hmar Women Association General Headquarters also submitted a memorandum to Union Home Minister Amit Shah requesting a commission for a special investigation team to be constituted and monitored by the Supreme Court against the “extra-judicial actions of Assam Police (jurisdiction) in regards to the death of three youths from the Kuki-Zo community in Assam.”
They said in the memorandum that the three youths were convicted and criminalised by the Assam Police without trial as per the procedure laid down by the law and that it is likely the deceased were denied their fundamental rights under Article 22(1) of the Constitution of India. They said the Assam Police did not produce the youths to the nearest magistrate nor informed the family members of the arrests, with the family only allegedly getting news of their arrest and death through social media photos and videos. The memorandum also accused the Assam Police of harassment and lying regarding the cause of death of the victims.
Two days after the three Hmar youth were killed in an encounter, which Assam Police identified as involving alleged armed militants, their families filed a First Information Report (FIR) on July 19 at the district’s Lakhipur police station, seeking an investigation. The families termed the incident as “custodial death” and demanded an investigation so that those responsible could be punished according to the law.
Several organizations made statements regarding the deaths of the youth. On July 17, 2024, the Hmar Inpui (Apex Body of Hmar Tribes) General Headquarters expressed their shock and outrage, calling the incident “whimsical-orchestrated extra-judicial killings.” They claimed that the three youths were shot cold-bloodedly within twenty-four hours of their arrest, terming it a gross human rights violation and “state-sponsored terrorism.”
They emphasized the principle of ‘presumption of innocence’ until proven guilty and alleged that the arrested individuals were denied a fair trial. The Hmar Inpui demanded an independent magisterial inquiry, disciplinary action against the involved policemen, and compensation for the victims’ next of kin.
The Kuki Students Organization condemned the alleged brutal assassination, noting that the circumstances surrounding the deaths differed significantly from the official account, as depicted in a video circulating on social media. They called for intervention by the National Commission for Human Rights.
The Hmar Students Association echoed these sentiments, stating, “They were arbitrarily detained, taken to an undisclosed location, and brutally shot dead under circumstances that defy all principles of justice and human rights. The Assam Police’s claim of an encounter is riddled with inconsistencies and contradicted by compelling video evidence, which exposes the fabricated nature of their account. Such acts of extrajudicial killings not only undermine the sanctity of human life but also erode trust in our law enforcement agencies.”
The Manipur Tribals Forum, Delhi, in their statement, explained why they believe it is a staged encounter. “The victims, who were wearing shorts and T-shirts when apprehended, were shown in military outfits when their lifeless bodies were displayed. This clear manipulation of facts points to a staged encounter,” they said.
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