Imphal, Dec. 23: Kukis blocked traffic on the Imphal-Dimapur highway in Senapati district this morning in protest against the killing of two armed militants, suspected to be Kuki National Front (President) cadres, by residents of a primarily non-Kuki village.
Today, the relatives of the lynching victims refused to accept the bodies. A delegation comprising leaders of the Kuki Students’ Organisation, All College Tribal Students’ Organisation, Manipur and the All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur met chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh this afternoon, seeking justice.
The blockade was lifted at 6.30pm after Ibobi Singh assured the delegation that their demands, including compensation and punishment to the guilty, would be looked into after Christmas.
The villagers of Nongbrang in Thoubal district yesterday chased the armed gro-up that had fired at them and lynched Paosat Kipgen, and Paokholien Chongloi, both residents of Senapati district.
As an uneasy calm prevailed today in Nongbrang, members of the Kuki community settled along the highway stretch that passes through Senapati district blocked traffic at Saparmeina, about 70km from the Thoubal village, and neighbouring areas in Senapati district since morning, claiming that Paosat and Paokholien were students.
At the mortuary here, the relatives of Paosat and Paokholien and other Kukis claimed that the two students were studying in Shillong and were coming home to celebrate Christmas. They claimed Paosat was the social and cultural secretary of the Kuki Students’ Organisation, Shillong, and Paokholien the organisation’s secretary for games and sport. They said had the police taken adequate measures, the incident would not have happened.
Vehicles bound for Senapati district headquarters and Kohima returned to Imphal while more than 50 vehicles, including buses and trucks, bound for Imphal were stranded at Senapati bazaar and other areas of the district.
