Police Claimed the 3 Youngsters, One of Them from Manipur, Died in a Crossfire

Newsreel Asia Insight #305
August 9, 2024

The post-mortem examination of three young men from the Hmar community has revealed signs of brutal torture before they died from gunshot wounds in custody of the Assam Police. The finding contradicts the police’s claim that the deaths resulted from a fatal crossfire.

The victims—21-year-old Lallungawi Hmar and 33-year-old Lalbiekkung Hmar from Assam, and 35-year-old Joshua Lalrinsang from Manipur—were reportedly detained by Assam police on alleged suspicions of militant activities. Their deaths have led to outrage and cries of injustice from their families and community leaders.

The Hmar people are part of the Kuki-Zo tribes residing primarily in Manipur and Mizoram but also in Assam.

The trio was apprehended by the Assam police on July 16 while traveling in an autorickshaw under Kachudharam Police Station’s jurisdiction on Krishnapur Road. Police statements had claimed that after receiving a confidential tip, they found sophisticated weaponry, including an AK-47 rifle, a single-barrel rifle and a pistol with live ammunition, on the three youths.

During interrogation, the three men revealed that more group members were hiding in a nearby forest in Bhuban Hills, the Assam Police had claimed, adding that commandos were then deployed to apprehend these suspects. According to police, upon their arrival, the security forces were met with gunfire from uphill, leading to a fierce shootout. The trio, equipped with bulletproof jackets and helmets, sustained severe injuries in the encounter and later died from their wounds, according to police.

However, the autopsy report, seen by Newsreel Asia, reveals extensive bruising and clear signs of injuries from blunt impacts on all three bodies.

Lallungawi, the youngest, was found naked with a widespread bruise on the right side of his scalp and bruising in private areas, which is in sharp contrast to earlier images where he was clothed.

Joshua also showed severe injuries, including multiple broken ribs and a suspicious, deep wound near the left side of his buttocks, indicating severe abuse.

Lalbiekkung’s autopsy showed widespread bruising and internal bleeding in the chest area, as well as cut marks indicating injuries inflicted before death that were not caused by bullets. His gunshot wounds, which were blackened and rough, suggest he was shot at close range, contradicting the official claim of a distant firefight.

On July 19, the families of the three young men filed a joint police complaint, alleging that the deaths were extrajudicial killings, or a “fake encounter.”

The deaths of the three occurred amid ongoing violence in Manipur, fuelled by deep-rooted ethnic tensions. The tensions intensified after the Manipur High Court, in April 2023, urged the state government to expedite its decision on the majority Meitei community’s demand for tribal recognition. The proposal sparked fears among the Kuki-Zo communities about potentially losing their ancestral lands, leading to heightened conflict.

Since May 3, 2023, following a protest by tribal groups in Churachandpur district, the conflict has displaced at least 67,000 people and resulted in the deaths of at least 191 Kuki-Zo individuals. The strife has also led to the destruction of 200 villages and 360 Kuki-Zo places of worship.

The aftermath of the conflict has seen complete ethnic segregation, with Kuki-Zo families relocating from Imphal and Meiteis moving out of Kuki-majority areas, culminating in the extensive destruction of properties owned by both communities in their respective regions.