‘Manipur Commandos arresting innocent civilians on fabricated charges’ Tahamzam, October 30 (MExN): The All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) today charged the Manipur Police Commando of conducting random raids and arresting innocent civilians on fabricated charges. A press release from the association’s Publicity Wing vehemently condemned the conduct of the Manipur Commando. “We are not surprised by their acts of violence and blatant abuse of human rights but we strongly condemn the continued oppression of the indigenous people/tribals of Manipur in different forms,” ANSAM stated. “We see the recent arrest as another assault and attack on the Naga people,” it added. Highlighting the arrests, ANSAM informed that on October 26, one Phaningkhui Kapai, aged about 43 years, S/O Shangreikan Kapai of Peh (Paoyi) village, Ukhrul District, was picked up from Dewalahland, Imphal “in the same manner without stating the ground for which he was arrested” and a case was registered against him. He was bailed out on the next day but re-arrested on October 28, it added. It also informed of the arrest of four choir member of Somdal Baptist Church on October 27, at Fairlyland, Imphal. According to the release, the four had been halting there when they were arrested without any reason and charged U/S 400/384/34 IPC which, ANSAM argued, “is highly uncalled for”. They had come to Imphal to record Christmas songs at Agape Recording Studio at Chingmeirong, Imphal as a tribute to one of their leaders, Late Rev. Wonmi, the release stated and identified the four as Ningkhangam Muivah (37 years) s/o M. Vareishim, Vavein Ruivah (37) s/o Tonsing Ruivah, Ramthan Muivah (35) s/o Rolant Ruivah, Chonreishim Phungshok (33) s/o Lt. Ningam Phungshok. Insisting that such unwarranted and communal actions and provocation carried out by the Manipur government and its agency will not only widen the gap of the Hills and Valley but also destroy the future of the people, the apex Naga student association in Manipur demanded an immediate stop to “such actions” and that the arrested civilians be released at the earliest “without any condition and delay”.
