Nine Naga legislators abstained from Manipur assembly proceedings on Monday in protest against the killing of six Nagas in May and to press for action against deputy chief minister Nemcha Kipgen, calling her husband the prime accused. They include Losii Dikho, the ethnic-violence-hit state’s second deputy chief minister.
Naga People’s Front chief Awangbou Newmai announced the abstention hours before the proceedings. He accused Thangboi Kipgen, the husband of deputy chief minister Nemcha Kipgen, a Kuki, of being responsible for the killing of six Nagas. “We will not participate in the House until the House suspends or removes Kipgen from her post. Her husband is the prime accused of abduction and killing of six Nagas. Self-styled Gen ‘Tiger’ Kipgen cadres are alleged to have killed and mutilated the bodies of the six Nagas.
On August 31, the nine Naga legislators submitted a memorandum to Union Home Minister Amit Shah demanding immediate arrest of Kuki-Zo leaders, who have claimed responsibility for the killing and dismemberment of the six Nagas, including Thangboi Kipgen.
Newmai said the bodies of the six remain at Imphal’s Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Science awaiting justice.
A new government was formed in February, nearly a year after the imposition of President’s Rule. It includes representatives from all three major communities as part of an attempt to maintain balance. But sporadic violence has continued and left 306 people dead and 49 missing since May 2023.
