Churachandpur, Jul 24: A massive rally was organised by the Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights (KWOHR) in collaboration with the Hmar Women Union (HWU) in Manipur’s Churachandpur district on Wednesday to protest the killing of three Hmar youths during an encounter in Assam’s Cachar district on July 16. The rally which started at 11am from Muolvaiphei playground and culminated at the Wall of Remembrance near Peace Ground, saw a large turnout of women protesters demanding justice for the deceased youths.
The Assam Police had earlier claimed that the three Hmar youths identified as Lallungawi Hmar (21), Lalbiekkung Hmar (33) and Joshua Lalremsang Hmar (35), were members of an armed Hmar group and were caught on their way towards the Bhuban Hills in an autorickshaw. The police alleged that the trio was armed with an AK-47 rifle, a single-barrel rifle and a pistol, along with live ammunition. The police further claimed that the youths were killed in a special operation launched in Bhuban Hills after coming under fire from suspected extremists.
However, family members of the deceased and various Hmar organisations have contested the police’s version of events, calling it a fake and staged encounter. They have demanded a thorough and impartial investigation into the incident to ascertain the truth behind the deaths of the three Hmar youths.
The rally on Wednesday saw participants marching from Muolvaiphei playground through Rengakai road, passing by the district police station on Teding Road, before finally reaching the Wall of Remembrance. As they marched, the protesters raised slogans of “We Demand Justice”, “We Demand Judicial Enquiry”, “Assam Police, Down Down” while carrying placards with messages like “Justice for Every Citizens of India”, “Fair Trial Not False Encounter”, “Justice Delayed is Justice Denied”, “Stop Fake Encounters”, “Fake Encounter is the Mother of Lawlessness”.
KWOHR spokesperson Rebecca Haokip demanded an independent judicial inquiry and the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the deaths of the three Hmar youths.
The protesters also submitted a memorandum to Churachandpur Deputy Commissioner addressed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking justice for the families of the three deceased youths.
