By NE NOW NEWS
Imphal: Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) on Thursday condemned the killing of two church workers in Kamjong district’s Kultuh village and demanded an independent judicial inquiry into the incident.
In a statement, the apex Kuki body alleged that the killings took place during a pre-dawn raid on the village by armed assailants who crossed over from Myanmar and later retreated across the border.
The victims were identified as Letminlun Haokip (34), General Secretary of KBC Circle No. 17 and Head Deacon of Kultuh Local Church, and Lunminthang Haokip (36), General Secretary of the Youth Department of KBC Circle No. 17 and Youth Chairman of Kultuh Local Church. KIM alleged that both men were killed and their bodies mutilated before being set on fire.
The organisation alleged that the attackers were members of NSCN-IM’s Eastern Flank and Myanmar-based Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA) cadres. It further claimed that eyewitnesses had reported seeing local civilians assisting the assailants and called for an impartial investigation into the allegations.
KIM urged the Centre and the Manipur government to launch an independent judicial inquiry, arrest those responsible and strengthen security along the Indo-Myanmar border in Kamjong district. The organisation also sought enhanced deployment of central security forces, stronger border patrolling and the establishment of permanent security outposts in vulnerable areas.
Among its other demands, KIM called for compensation to the victims’ families and reconstruction of houses and property damaged in the incident. It also sought an investigation into the alleged involvement of Myanmar-based armed groups in the attack.
The organisation said the incident posed serious security concerns and urged authorities to take swift action to establish the facts and ensure accountability.