The severed head of Ajinpou Ringkamai, one of four Naga men allegedly killed in an attack at Makui village in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district on October 10, was recovered by a joint team of CRPF and Manipur Police in the early hours today, five days after the incident.
The recovered remains were brought to the mortuary of the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS), Imphal, at around 1.30 am, according to Mathiuchunbou Rimai, president of the Liangmai Students’ Union, Manipur.
The recovery came shortly before the expiry of a 48-hour ultimatum issued by the Joint Tribes Council (JTC-Manipur), which had demanded the recovery of the missing head and the arrest of those allegedly responsible for the October 10 killings.
Following the recovery, post-mortem examinations of Ajinpou Ringkamai, 52, and Dibambou Ringkangmai, 48, began after being suspended pending the recovery of the missing remains.
However, the JTC has decided to continue its agitation, insisting that Thangboi Kipgen, David Hangsing and Dr Sailen Haokip, whom it has named as alleged perpetrators, be arrested. The allegations against the three have not been independently established.
Rimai said the bodies were severely mutilated and had deteriorated considerably. He added that several civil society organisations had visited JNIMS to express solidarity with the bereaved families.
The JTC has accused the authorities of failing to act against those responsible and alleged that armed groups were operating with impunity under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement. It has held the Centre and the state government accountable for what it described as a failure to ensure justice..
