Churachandpur/Imphal, Sep 23 Hundreds of women on Wednesday staged protests in Kuki-dominated areas of Manipur demanding justice for children and civilians killed by suspected militants.
In Churachandpur district, the protesters gathered at the Wall of Remembrance at Tuibong, holding placards that read ‘Justice for Innocent Women’, a district official said.
The protest was organised by the Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights (KWOHR), which claimed that 27 Kuki-Zo civilians have been killed since March.
Later, representatives of the protesters submitted a memorandum to Union Home Minister Amit Shah through the Churachandpur district commissioner, seeking investigations by central agencies, including the NIA and CBI, into the killings.
They also demanded legal action against individuals and organisations responsible for the violent acts and protection of vulnerable Kuki-Zo villages.
Similar protests were held in Kangpokpi district.
The protests came in the wake of the killing of at least seven people, including five Kuki women, in September.
On September 13, a 42-year-old woman, identified as Lhingngai Singsit, was killed and her husband, Seineih Singsit, and infant son were injured when suspected militants attacked their residence in Tollen Kuki village in Tamenglong district.
Seineih Singsit later succumbed to his injuries while being taken to a hospital in Silchar, officials said.
In another incident, a woman and a man were shot dead by armed militants at Longpi village under the Nungba police station in Noney district.
Another woman injured in the incident later succumbed to her injuries in Churachandpur district after undergoing treatment for a week.
On September 15, armed militants shot dead two women when they had gone to an isolated field in Leisangphai (Muktokhal) village in Tamenglong district.
More than 40 people have been killed since clashes broke out between Naga and Kuki communities in February this year.
(PTI News)
