Leplen nightmare continues, man picked up again

Imphal, June 04: Nightmare continues to haunt the villagers of Khomunom and its adjoining villages as one of the six persons who were in Assam Rifles custody for six days was again picked up today. Following the attack on AR personnel by the underground KRA on May 27 in which 11 security men were killed, six persons were picked up from Khomunom village in the morning of May 29 by the Assam Rifles men and were taken to the Assam Rifles post at Sanakeithel. It is located about 15 kms from Leplen village. Speaking to reporters at New Lambulane today the secretary of the village, Thangchuan Hansing said that just two days after the Leplen ambush Assam Rifles personnel came to their village and started terrorizing the villagers. After thrashing the villagers, six persons including the village chief and himself (Thangchuan) were taken into custody. The other five who were picked up are the village chief Thangleikhup Hangshing (50), Hemin Chongloi (27), Thonglen Chongloi (28), Lunchon Chongloi (22) and Thangminlal Chongloi. They were released on May 2 and the following day they were taken to JN hospital by their family members for medical checkup. The six persons were since then staying at a house at New Lambulane. The house belongs to the village chief. However today at about 2 pm, armed men in civil, suspected to be Assam Rifles personnel came to the house in two Maruti Gypsys. The armed men asked them to reveal where KRA cadres had taken shelter and took away Lunchon Chongloi. The village secretary further said Lunchon was beaten up and was taken away blind folded. Three others, excluding the village chief and the secretary who were staying at the New Lambulane house have since left for their village fearing further harassments. Meanwhile condemnations continue to pour in against the AR excesses. The Kuki Students' Organization has submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister highlighting the gross human rights violation of the innocent villagers by the rampaging Assam Rifles personnel. The memorandum said villagers of Khomunom, Jangnoi, Zaienphai, Gampum, Gangpikon and Leplen were brutalised and terrorized by the security personnel and urged the Prime Minister to institute a judicial inquiry, immediate payment of compensation to the innocent victims and take steps to stop the security personnel from harassing the civil population in the name of counter insurgency operations. The Kuki Movement for Human Rights and the Naga Students' Federation have also condemned the atrocities of the Assam Rifles men. The Centre for Organization Research and Education has also unequivocally condemned the excesses of the Assam Rifles personnel and urged the authority concerned to institute a judicial inquiry into the incident and punish the guilty according to the rule of law.