Manipur Women Rally for Probe into Alleged Staged Encounter

Two women's organizations from Manipur's Kuki and Hmar communities held a rally demanding a Supreme Court-led investigation into the killing of three Hmar men in an alleged staged police encounter in Assam. The rally extended from Muolvaiphei playground to the Wall of Remembrance.

Two women's organizations of Manipur's Kuki and Hmar communities staged a rally on Wednesday in Churachandpur district, calling for an investigation by a Supreme Court judge into the killing of three Hmar men by police in Assam earlier this month.

Organized by the Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights and Hmar Women Union, the participants walked from Muolvaiphei playground to the Wall of Remembrance near the peace ground.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that three "terrorists" were killed in an encounter by the police in Cachar district on July 17. However, the families of the deceased alleged that the encounter was "staged".

"We request for constitution of a Special Investigation Team headed by a judge of the Supreme Court of India for a detailed investigation to understand the facts of the case," the organizations said in a memorandum to Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

(With inputs from agencies.)