Imphal, July 18: Several Naga organisations in Manipur on Saturday submitted a memorandum to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, seeking an impartial judicial probe into recent incidents of violence and alleging bias in the state’s handling of the ethnic conflict.
The organisations expressed concern over the continuing violence in the state despite the formation of the new government led by Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand, saying targeted killings and displacement had continued and that peace was yet to be restored.
In the memorandum, the organisations questioned the state government’s neutrality, alleging that the present leadership had failed to inspire confidence among all communities and calling for more impartial governance.
They also objected to the appointment of Nemcha Kipgen as Deputy Chief Minister, alleging links between her family and a Kuki militant group, and urged the Centre to take note of what they described as a matter of serious public concern.
The organisations demanded an independent judicial inquiry into the deaths of a mother and child in a bomb blast, the killing of two villagers at TM Kasom in Ukhrul district, and the abduction and killing of six villagers from Konsakhul.
They also called for a comprehensive review of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with Kuki armed groups, alleging repeated violations of the ground rules and seeking stricter enforcement of the agreement.
The memorandum said an impartial investigation into the incidents and a review of the SoO arrangement were essential to restore public confidence and promote lasting peace in the violence-hit state.
