– Abdul Halim Phundrei-mayum
Imphal, Jan. 5: Five Muslim (Pangal) men were killed and over a dozen injured at the hands of armed persons allegedly belonging to the extremist Meitei ethnic group at Chingjao under Lilong Assembly Constituency in Manipur’s Thoubal district, the only Muslim majority assembly constituency, on the New Year’s Day.
The last rites of their bodies were performed at Lilong Chingjao in Manipur’s Thoubal district on Thursday.
As per eye-witnesses, the armed men arrived in four Gypsy vehicles and tried to kidnap one Hasan from his home. When people from the locality converged around Hasan’s house, the armed men opened fire while fleeing. It caused death of four persons and critical injuries to over a dozen. One of the injured later succumbed to the injury.
Sometimes back, the armed men are said to have demanded one crore from Hasan but later agreed on a lesser amount. They already extorted a part of it beforehand. However, the armed men came back later to demand more and more.
The names of those who are dead are Md Sirajuddin Makak (55) S/O Late Reihajuddin, Md Azad Khan (35) S/O Md Noorjaman Makakmayum, Md Dawood Khan Phundreimayum (40) S/O Late Zalaluddin, and Md Hussain Makakmayu (25) S/O Late Md Habibur Rahman – all hailing from Lilong Chingjao. The name of the fifth person who later died is not clear.
On January 2, a public meeting was organized at Chingjao, in which many civil society organizations participated. The meeting adopted 7-point resolutions. One of the resolutions condemned the deliberate shooting causing the immediate death of four persons and injuring 14 others. Another resolution welcomed Chief Minister’s statement that ‘the perpetrators will be punished’. Yet another resolution welcomed the CSO leaders and MLAs who tried to stop the doubts and rumours spread by a handful of people to create a wrong narrative, and also resolved to safeguard the unity and integrity of Manipur.
