The Manipur government has constituted a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the January 1 killing of five Meitei Pangals at Lilong in Thoubal district and has also transferred three police officials posted at the Lilong PS for alleged negligence of duty.
These were among the seven assurances given by chief minister N. Biren Singh on Wednesday to the “Joint Action Committee (JAC) against the mass killing and brutal act at Lilong Chingjao”. The JAC had decided to accept the bodies of the deceased for burial after getting the assurances.
The SIT has six members and is headed by Md Riyajuddin Shah, SDPO, Yairipok. The SIT will apprise the progress of the case to the Thoubal senior SP, R. Balwal, twice a day.
Three police officers of the Lilong PS, including the officer in charge and two sub-inspectors, will also be transferred for alleged negligence of duty.
Another assurance included a police officer of the rank of SDPO/DSP would be “stationed/attached” with Lilong PS in view of the sensitive nature of the area.
Unidentified armed miscreants had shot four Pangals (Meitei Muslims) on Monday evening. The toll rose to five subsequently. Altogether 14 persons have been injured, of whom three have suffered serious injuries.
Other assurances by the chief minister included providing an ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh to the families of the five deceased, Rs 2 lakh to the critically injured and Rs 1 lakh to those with minor injuries besides suitable government jobs to next-of-kin of the deceased in home guard, VDF or Grade IV post.
After the meeting with the JAC, the chief minister, who had on Tuesday visited Lilong and also met the injured in an Imphal hospital, posted on X: “ ... Express my deep sorrow for the unfortunate incident that happened at Lilong on 1st Jan. We have come to an understanding where the religious leaders and CSOs of Meitei Pangal community have agreed to take the remains of the victims for their last rites.”
Singh, who is heading the BJP-led government in the state since 2017, said in the meeting that those responsible for the deaths and injuries would be brought “to justice at the soonest possible”.
The proceedings also stated that the JAC had decided to drop all forms of agitation related to the incident.
The banned Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF), a Meitei militant outfit, claimed responsibility for the Lilong attack, stating they had gone to apprehend a drug dealer who had not heeded their repeated warnings to mend his ways and that they shot in self-defence after local residents got involved without knowing the real reason.
Jamiat demand
The killings had drawn the attention of the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, a leading and influential organisation of Muslims in the country, prompting it to urge the Centre and the Manipur government to take “decisive” action against the “perpetrators” of the Lilong attack.
