Noney: One Naga Village Guard Killed, Two Injured in Alleged CRPF CoBRA Firing
–Golmei Pouhoi, Noney
One Naga Village Guard (NVG) was killed and two others were injured in an alleged firing by personnel of the CRPF CoBRA unit during a security operation near the boundary of Bitiang (Laphok) Village under Khoupum PS in Noney District on Wednesday morning.
The deceased has been identified as Lanbimei Riamei (25), son of Kadirang Riamei of Longmai-3, Noney District. One of the injured has been identified as Loveson Inkah (25) of Kabuikhullen Village, while the identity of the second injured person was not immediately known.
According to local sources, around 162 CRPF CoBRA personnel, including senior officers, arrived in the area on Tuesday evening at around 6:00PM and reportedly conducted surveillance of the surrounding areas using drones. The sources alleged that the security forces opened fire during an operation at around 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday, resulting in the death of the Village Guard and injuries to two others.
Following the incident, women and youth from various Longmai area villages rushed to the site and staged a protest, alleging that the security personnel had used excessive force against the Village Guards.
Leaders of the Joint Tribe Council Manipur (JTCM), led by Convenor Shri Merachao Inkah, along with Smt. Chingdinliu, President of Rongmei Naga Luphuam Manipur, and their teams, reached the spot from Imphal and held discussions with the security personnel. They questioned the circumstances that led to the death of the Village Guard and the injuries sustained by the volunteers.
The JTCM leaders also raised concerns over previous security operations, alleging that armed Kuki militants had escaped during earlier operations without arrests or casualties. They stated that the council would pursue appropriate legal action over the incident and urged the security forces to leave the area to prevent further escalation of public unrest.
Meanwhile, the Joint Tribe Council Manipur, comprising the Inpui, Liangmei, Rongmei and Zeme communities, has called for an emergency total shutdown across the affected areas. The shutdown will remain in force until justice is delivered, the organisation stated.
No official statement from the CRPF, Manipur Police or the district administration had been issued at the time of filing this report.
