New Delhi: The families of six Meitei victims, brutally murdered in Jiribam on November 11, have appealed to both the central and state governments, as well as human rights organizations, to ensure that the perpetrators are sentenced to death.
Speaking about their harrowing ordeal, survivors shared their anguish with reporters in Delhi. Sandhiya Begum, who lost two sisters, recounted the horrifying night: “About 30 militants surrounded our village, armed and ready. I managed to escape, but I saw my mother being dragged away in an autorickshaw. It was a nightmare.”
The victims, all internally displaced persons residing in a relief camp, were identified as Yurembam Rani Devi (60), Telem Thoibi Devi (31), Laishram Heitonbi Devi (25), Laishram Chingkheinganba (3), Telam Thajamanbi (8), and Laishram Langamba (10 months).
Uttam Singh, who lost his wife and two children, expressed his deep sorrow: “We lost our homes first, and then they came for us in the relief camp. Who kills a 10-month-old baby? They are worse than animals. The pain is unbearable.”
Nine Meitei civil society organizations have condemned the killings as a “premeditated act of terror.” They questioned the motives behind the killings and the release of hostage images before the murders, alleging it was intended to maximize trauma and incite hatred.
The ongoing ethnic tensions in Manipur have led to widespread violence, claiming over 220 lives and displacing nearly 50,000 people. While the Meitei community seeks inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes category, Kuki groups advocate for a separate administration.
The families of the victims are demanding swift justice. Uttam Singh pleaded, “This is not just about us; it’s about justice for everyone. These atrocities must stop, and the guilty must face the severest punishment.”
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