The Wall of Remembrance Massacre: A Killing Spree that Woke the Slumbering Masses!

     Our hearts melt on the extreme sacrifices
     In defending our ancestral land and freedom
     We salute you, the brave souls. Adios!

What happened on the fateful night of 15 February 2024 at the district headquarter Tuibong, Lamka, was due to the abject incompetency of the district administration particularly the District Superintendent of Police (SP) and the District Magistrate (DC/DM) for failing to assessed the situation on time. It was first the SP, Shri Shivanand Surve, who suspended a police personnel for a mere viral photo and also for confronting the peaceful protesters instead of trying to comprehend the depth of their sentiments, and later the DC/DM, Dr Dharun Kumar S., for giving the order to shoot at the civilians whose demand was simply to revoke the suspension order issued by the SP earlier the day.

The failure of the two top district officers in taking the right decisions unfortunately resulted in the loss of at least two precious lives, including a minor student, and many sustaining bullet injuries. If the SP had understood the sentiments of the people, or at least made an attempt to dose the tension, and if the DC/DM had not given the order to shoot at sight, the whole incident could have been prevented without any major incident.

The hasty decisions of the two bureaucrats who are supposed to be the guardians of the people of the district exposed their unwillingness to serve the plights for whom they are posted. The ‘Boss’ mentality of the Civil Servants of the country combined with their high ego led to the massacre as their only intention is to please their political boss. An old WhatsApp message which went viral where the SP termed the plight of the minority Kuki tribals as “nonsense” also shows his lack of empathy and humane touch for whom he is assigned to serve.

However, what happened on 15 February should not be seen in isolation. Rather it should be viewed from the lens of the larger ethnic cleansing campaign spearheaded by the majority Meitei community against the minority Kuki-Zo with the open support of the state government. Though the particular incident at Tuibong in Lamka district was the sole responsibility of the SP and DC/DM, it was also part of a well-orchestrated ploy to shift the goalposts. 

Now, all the Meitei CSOs including COCOMI are shedding crocodile’s tears for what happens in Tuibong. Surprisingly, instead of condemning the highhandedness of the Central Forces, they claimed that it was intentionally done to destroy their own [Kuki-Zo] documents! Anyway, if the protesters had known that they would be met with live bullets for a peaceful demonstration, they might not have even thought of it. Destruction of public properties is something the angry mobs resorted to as the last resort after their repeated pleas were turned with a deaf ear.

It may also be noted that for five consecutive days during the last one week, the Meitei militants have attacked at least three locations in Saikul Areas of Kangpokpi district – Satang and Khamenlok hills, Saibol Kuki village of Bungpi area, about a kilometre from Yaingangpokpi, and Phailengmol area. In the ensuing uninterrupted gunfights between the two warring groups, there was casualty reported on both sides though official figures are not available. There was also an exchange of gunfires near the Kangchup-Leimakhong areas in Kangpokpi district and Sugnu area, which is the meeting point of the valley Kakching district and Chandel and Lamka, during this period. 

It was after these five days of continuous gunfights that the Meitei miscreants resorted to looting of 5-IRB and MPTC/6-IRB, Pangei, both in Imphal East, in which hundreds of arms and thousands of ammunition were taken away.

Interestingly, there was also an FIR against Col. Nectar Sanjenbam on 15 February for allegedly sending life-threatening messages to a former KSO leader from Tengnoupal, Mr. H. Thangtinlen Daniel Mate. It may be recalled that Col.Nectar is a retired Army officer appointed by chief minister N. Biren Singh’s government as the SSP (Combat) of the police department by defying all established norms to look after the security of the strategic Tengnoupal district, including Moreh town. Though the appointment of this controversial Meitei officer appears to be purely on merit, it is seen by the Kuki-Zo community as a ploy to assist the majority community’s wider plan to annihilate the Kukis. And an FIR for sending life-threatening messages against this Meitei officer was extremely a setback for his community.

It is also surprising that no flag march has been seen in the valley for months despite repeated looting of arms from police armouries and the Meitei militias moving openly with arms. But Lamka town witnessed such a flag march on 16 February which exposed the double standard of the Central Forces. For a long time, the minority Kuki-Zo people have considered the Central Forces as their saviours after completely losing trust on the Meitei State Police. But the massacre at Tuibong and the way the flag march was carried out the very next day proves otherwise. The highly disciplined Army who are supposed to be exceptionally cautious while facing civilians failed the Kuki-Zo protesters on that fateful night. 

It is also interesting to note that the state government had decided to give Rupees 20 Lakhs and a suitable government job to the next of kin as ex-gratia to an armed miscreant who was shot dead at Pangei while looting arms and ammunition, but a police officer, Sub-Inspector Onkhomang Hokip, who lost his life on line of duty was given only 10 Lakhs!

From the above facts and circumstances, it is crystal clear that the incident at Tuibong, Lamka, was carefully designed to divert the attention of the public from the looting of 5-IRB/MPTC/6-IRB, FIR against Col. Nectar, the continuous attack on the Kuki-Zo for five days, and the overall failure of the communal Meitei government headed by Mr Biren, to shift the focus on the Kuki-Zo tribals in Lamka. Keeping in view the circumstances leading to the unfortunate massacre at Tuibong, the following points may be considered as a way forward:

First, the suspension of Head Constable Mr. Siamlalpaul should be revoked immediately as the first step to address the mounting pressure on the administration.

Second, the SP and DC/DM should be deported far away from the Kuki-Zo areas for carrying out the well-orchestrated massacre to please their political boss in Imphal. It should not be forgotten that they have muddied their hands with the blood of the innocent Kuki-Zo. From now on, the Kuki-Zo districts should be administered directly from the Centre instead of placing the state officers who are controlled from Imphal. This may be done in the form of a Chief Commissioner or any designation deemed fit as done in Manipur prior to the attainment of statehood in 1971.

Third, the way how the imposition of AFSPA in the hills should be reassessed as it has been misused repeatedly by the Central Forces to hunt down innocent civilians and village volunteers on multiple occasions when the same was lifted from the more disturbed valley areas. 

Fourth, the Assam Rifles must come out clear that their forces are without Meitei sepoys who took advantage of such a volatile situation to score personal agenda as alleged by the common people. In case there are any Meitei sepoys, they should be transferred immediately.

Fifth, a judicial inquiry must be carried out against the culprits including the SP, DC/DM, and Central Forces, responsible for the massacre. The SP, DC/DM and the Commanding Officer must be placed on suspension mode to conduct a fair investigation against them.

(Courtesy: KSO Bulletin Thingkho le Malcha, Issue no.156, February 16, 2024).