Naga Students’ Federation condemns murder of Naga lady in Manipur

DIMAPUR— The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has condemned the “cold-blooded murder” of M Lucy Marem, 57, a Maring Naga lady from Beaularham village, by the Meitei group ‘Arambai Tenggol in collusion with the Maira Paibis’ in Imphal on July 15.

“The cowardly act perpetrated upon our harmless mother, despite having identified herself as a Maring Naga, is a direct challenge to the Maring Naga people in particular and the Naga people as a whole,” read the condemnation.

Seeking to know the intention of the Arambai Tenggol and the Maira Paibis, it said bludgeoning an innocent lady to death “speaks for how the perpetrator has systematically planned the ongoing ethnic violence in the state”.

“While condemning the targeted hate crime in no uncertain terms, the NSF is convinced that the prevailing lawlessness in the state of Manipur is a creation of the present dispensation and that the individuals at the helm of affairs should be held accountable,” it said.

“Everyone should be reminded that Nagas, wherever they are placed, are peace loving people. However, our warrior blood will not rest if our very existence is threatened by forces that are inimical to our peaceful attitude and approach. We will not tread lightly even if a strand of our hair is touched with ill intention,” it added.

The student body also demanded the authorities a befitting action against the perpetrators as demanded by the United Naga Council (UNC).

UNC, the apex body of the Nagas in Manipur, had called for a 12-hour total shutdown in all Naga areas in Manipur on Monday to protest the barbaric act and demanded the state government to immediately constitute a judicial inquiry committee, arrest the perpetrators of the crime and bring them to justice as per the Naga Customary Law. It also demanded to make the role and position of the Meitei civil society organisations known.

“In the event of not fulfilling our demands within 48 hours, further course of action will be initiated,” it said.

Meanwhile, Manipur police updated on Sunday that it had arrested nine people, including five women in connection with the brutal killing of a woman on Saturday, and seized two weapons, five rounds of ammunition and a car.