Tengnoupal: Thousands of Kuki-Zo community members staged a massive rally in Moreh, a border town in Manipur’s Tengnoupal district, on Friday, demanding justice for the killings in Jiribam district.
Organised by the Kuki Women’s Union and the Tengnoupal Human Rights wing (KWU & HR) in collaboration with various organisations, the peaceful rally began at 8 AM from Galngam Lentol. Participants from Moreh, Tengnoupal, and neighbouring villages joined the march, expressing grief and anger over the incident.
Protestors carried banners and placards with messages such as “We Want Justice,” “Respect Human Rights,” and “Action Against the Perpetrators.” They alleged that the 11 victims, including 31-year-old woman Zosangkim Hmar and ten other Hmar/Kuki village volunteers were killed by CRPF personnel while guarding their villages amid ongoing ethnic unrest.
KWU & HR urged the Government of India to conduct a transparent investigation into the killings and ensure accountability. Lhaikhohoi Doungel, General Secretary of KWU & HR Tengnoupal district, addressed the gathering, saying, “We demand justice for the victims and a fair and transparent investigation to hold the perpetrators accountable. Human rights must be respected, and the voices of the affected communities must not be ignored,” stated Lhaikhohoi Doungel, General Secretary, KWU & HR Tengnoupal district during the rally.
The organisation emphasized that violence against individuals defending their communities must not go unanswered and reaffirmed their commitment to standing with the victims’ families.
The killings occurred on November 11 in Jiribam district. While the Manipur police issued a statement claiming the deceased were armed militants, the Kuki-Zo-Hmar community refuted the allegations, maintaining that the victims were unarmed village volunteers.
The protestors also alleged that they were killed by CRPF personnel while guarding their villages.
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