Unrest over deaths of 10 ‘militants’ spills over to Assam, Mizoram; ‘extra-judicial killings’ by CRPF, says MNF

AIZWAL/SILCHAR: Unrest over 10 “armed militants” being gunned down by security forces in Manipur’s Jiribam on Nov 11 spread to neighbouring south Assam and Mizoram Wednesday as tribal organisations milled outside Silchar Medical College to question the “prolonged autopsy process”, while Mizo National Front (MNF) — an former NDA ally — termed the casualties “extra-judicial killings”.

SMC doctors completed autopsies on six of the 10 slain Hmar “militants” by Tuesday evening and the scheduled the rest for the following day, sources said. As the hours ticked by Wednesday, the restiveness of tribal protesters awaiting the autopsy findings grew along with the size of the crowd.

By evening, the protesters were raising slogans demanding that they be informed of what was happening. Cachar district SP Numal Mahatta sought to quell conspiracy theories, saying there was “no deliberate postponement” of autopsies.

In Aizawl, MNF declared the 10 slain men as “fallen heroes”, mirroring claims by Kuki-Zo & Hmar outfits that a joint CRPF-police team killed “village volunteers” and passed them off as militants.

“CRPF exhibited bias... Such actions risk exacerbating fragile situation in Manipur... If we survive, we will survive together, and if we die, we will ensure no one dies alone. We denounce CRPF’s actions, and its discriminatory behaviour,” MNF said. It added the bodies would be taken from Silchar to their homes “via Mizoram”.

Amid the gathering storm, 13 civil rights organisations enforced a shutdown in Manipur valley — Imphal East & West, Thoubal, Kakching and Bishnupur — over the alleged abduction of three women and as many children from a shelter for displaced Meitei people in Jiribam.

Armed men torched two trucks carrying supplies near Old Kaiphundai in Naga-dominant Tamenglong district, next to Jiribam.

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