'Manipur Police Down Down’ Chants Echo at SMCH as Protesters Demand Kuki Bodies’ Release

Silchar, Assam – Protests erupted at Silchar Medical College as tribal groups gathered to demand the release of ten deceased Kuki youths, killed in a gunfight with security forces in Manipur’s Jiribam district. The confrontation, which took place on 11 November, led to the fatalities of the suspected insurgents and raised concerns over potential spillover effects in Assam’s Barak Valley.

The unrest began when the bodies of the ten Kuki youths were brought to Silchar Medical College and Hospital for post-mortem examinations. Six autopsies were completed on 12 November, but by 13 November, the remaining four were still pending, sparking anger among local tribal residents. Protesters surrounded the medical college’s morgue, demanding an immediate completion of the autopsies and the prompt release of the bodies.

Witnesses reported intense slogans such as “Manipur Police Down Down” and “Manipur Police Murdabad,” aimed at Manipur Police, who had reportedly entered the medical premises to manage the bodies’ transport. Protesters argued that Assam Police should have been tasked with the situation, given that Silchar lies within Assam. Tribal representatives also demanded that, if delayed further, the remaining post-mortems be conducted in Mizoram or Meghalaya.

One of the protest leaders stated, “We want the bodies returned to us for their last rites. This is not Manipur; it’s Assam. Manipur Police has no right to intimidate us here.” Reports suggests that Manipur Police allegedly showed firearms to the protesters, escalating tensions further.

Assam Police have since arrived at the medical college, and though the situation is under control, a tense atmosphere persists. The ongoing unrest reflects broader concerns of border communities in Barak Valley over violence from Manipur potentially spreading into Assam’s territories.