Imphal: Frontal organisations led by the Naga People’s Organisation (NPO) have raised questions over the circumstances surrounding the recovery of the bodies NPO questions recovery of Kuki bodies in Senapatiof two missing Kuki individuals from SP Road in Senapati district, demanding an impartial investigation into the killings and alleged procedural lapses by the authorities.
At a press conference on Sunday, the organisations condemned the killings and called for a transparent inquiry to establish the sequence of events and determine whether the prescribed legal procedures were followed.
NPO president Kuba Peter said the organisations condemned all forms of violence, irrespective of the victims’ community or identity. However, he said the circumstances surrounding the recovery of the bodies required clarification.
Peter questioned whether the authorities had complied with the procedures prescribed under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023. He specifically sought clarification on whether the executive magistrate and district authorities had been informed and whether an inquest was conducted in the presence of local witnesses.
He also pointed to discrepancies in reports about when the bodies were recovered. According to Peter, a leading state newspaper reported that the bodies had been retrieved early Saturday morning, while the police maintained that the recovery took place on Sunday morning.
He said the conflicting accounts raised questions about the actual timeline of events and the transparency of the investigation.
The NPO also questioned the role of Senapati Additional Superintendent of Police (Law and Order) Thangkhochon Haokip, citing concerns over his handling of sensitive communal matters in the past.
Peter sought clarification on whether the operation was conducted in accordance with the law or whether there had been an attempt to manage the situation in a way that shifted blame onto the local population.
The organisations called for an independent and transparent investigation, saying it was necessary to establish the facts, prevent further communal tensions and ensure that the people of Senapati were not unfairly held responsible.