Imphal: The body of Limlal Mate (65), a former Indian Army soldier and a Kuki, was found Monday morning in the fields of Lairensajik in Manipur’s Imphal West, an area dominated by Meiteis. A resident of Motbung, Kangpokpi, Mate was bleeding from the right side of his head and mouth.
He is suspected to have been killed after he accidentally crossed the buffer zone that divides the Kuki and Meitei areas, while heading to Imphal West from Kangpokpi.
According to the police, Mate, who previously served as a havaldar in the mechanised infantry of the Assam Regiment, was in a car when he entered Imphal West district. It is suspected that he was abducted by members of armed Meitei group Arambai Tenggol.
“We have registered an FIR on the complaint of his son. His body has been sent for a post-mortem. The nature of injuries and what led to the death will be clear once the report is out, but it appears he was beaten to death,” said a source in the Manipur police.
Mate’s 21-year-old son Thangminlun found out about his father’s death when someone sent him a video that had been circulating on social media. “I was looking for him all (Sunday) night. And in the morning at around 5.30 am I receive a video on my phone in which my father’s body can be seen. He is bleeding from his face, lying dead. He was beaten mercilessly and killed and the Meiteis around him are heard laughing and abusing the Kukis. I went numb,” he told ThePrint.
“I don’t know how this happened. I had told him it is dangerous, so don’t go that way. I regret not being around when he left, or I would not have let him go,” added Thangminlun.
He further said that his father had gone to buy hardware for a house they are building in Motbung. “It was around 5 pm (Sunday) that he left the house. The shop is just 100-200 metres away. When he did not return home till late night, we knew he was abducted as it is very close to the border. I feared the worst and it came true when I received the video of him dead this morning. He was abducted by the Arambai Tenggol and they must be arrested.”
At least 11 people, including both Kukis and Meiteis, have been killed in the latest spate of violence in ethnic conflict-hit Manipur in the last two weeks. The situation seems to have deteriorated as drone bombs and rocket launchers are being used to carry out attacks.
‘If we enter Imphal, they will kill us’
For Thangminlun, a first year BA student, and his mother, recovering his father’s body is also not an option.
The ongoing conflict between the Meiteis in the valley and Kukis in the hills has prevented people from claiming their dead due to the fear of being killed in areas dominated by the other community. This has resulted in several unclaimed bodies lying in morgues.
“If we enter Imphal, they will kill us,” said Thangminlun. “We have left it to the Army now. We have been told that they will arrange to get his body back home and do the last rites. It is devastating for me and my mother. I have not even shown that video to her.”
He added that while he had been extra cautious through the conflict to not step in dangerous territory and also ensured his family’s safety, he never imagined this would happen. “I just want justice for my father and hundreds of others who have been killed in this conflict. I tried so hard to keep my family safe, but what happened in the end? This violence consumed us too.”
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
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This sort of violence has no place in a civilized society. My condolences to the family of Mr. Limlal Mate. The central government needs to take whatever steps are necessary, including the imposition of President’s rule in Manipur, to end the violence there. It has gone on for too long now.