Imphal, Jan 22 (NationPress) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the leading organization of the Meitei community known as the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), along with various other groups, expressed strong condemnation on Thursday regarding the murder of a Meitei man. They emphasized that violent actions have no place in a civilized society.

New tensions arose on Thursday in the Imphal valley region of Manipur, home to the Meitei community, after police found the body of a 38-year-old man one day after he and his wife were reportedly kidnapped by suspected militants from the United Kuki National Army (UKNA) in Churachandpur district, according to officials.

The deceased has been identified as Mayanglambam Rishikanta Singh, a member of the Meitei community, who was married to Chingnu Haokip, affiliated with the Kuki tribal community.

As per a police official, the couple was abducted on Wednesday by individuals identified as UKNA militants and taken towards Natjang village under the jurisdiction of Henglep police station in Churachandpur district. Singh was allegedly murdered during captivity, while his wife was later released.

A significant number of residents, including women, gathered at Kakching Khunou Bazar in Kakching district to protest the killing. As part of their demonstration, local shops, businesses, schools, and government offices were closed.

The state BJP President, Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi, stated on X: “I vehemently condemn the tragic murder of Mayanglambam Rishikanta Singh, son of Mayanglambam Tombi Singh from Kakching Khunou, allegedly by anti-national elements.”

“Such violent acts are unacceptable in our society and contradict the principles of peace, harmony, and humanity. In this challenging time, I urge all segments of society to unite, uphold the rule of law, and work together to strengthen our community and ensure a peaceful and secure future for everyone,” Devi added.

COCOMI characterized the murder as a brutal act and claimed that the central government has failed to rein in armed militant groups operating in the violence-stricken state.

COCOMI Convenor Y.K. Dhiren remarked that the killing occurred at a time when civil society organizations and various public sectors were striving to restore peace and normalcy in Manipur.

“This incident is profoundly unfortunate and indicates that the security situation in the state is deteriorating,” he stated, mentioning that over 60,000 security personnel have been deployed in Manipur to manage the unrest, yet their presence has not effectively curbed militant activities.

The COCOMI leader expressed concerns to the media about civilians continuing to lose their lives while armed groups operate with impunity. He claimed that the militants are equipped with advanced weaponry and are moving freely, while authorities have failed to take decisive measures.

Questioning the effective utilization of the significant central and paramilitary forces aimed at civilian protection, Dhiren stated that the situation has exceeded acceptable limits and requires urgent intervention. He emphasized that if innocent lives cannot be safeguarded, the rationale behind such deployments must be reevaluated.

COCOMI reiterated its call for immediate and decisive actions from the Government of India to restore law and order, assign accountability, and prevent further civilian casualties in Manipur.