Silence of the Lambs

(The Tonsen Massacre)

On 3 October 1999, there was a shoot-out between the Manipur People's Army (MPA), the armed wing of the banned United National Liberation Front (UNLF) and the Central Reserved Police Force (CRPF) a para-military force of the Central Government at Tonsen Lamkhai, Thoubal District, Manipur. Seven CRPF personnel and one MPA cadre died. A few minutes later, enraged CRPF men shot dead 10 civilians and injured one polling personnel.

The civilian victims are as follows:

DECEASED

1. Md. Bashir Ahmad (35 years) of Yairipok Tulihal Mayai Leikai (Bus Owner)

2. Md. Nawab Ali (33 years) of Yairipok Tulihal Awang Leikai (Bus driver)

3. Md. Laheruddin (35 years) of Thoubal Kairenphabi

4. Mr Mangte Songte (35 years) S/o Pukchon of Tonsen village

5. Mr Ngaseppam Thanil (30 years) S/o (L) Maniton of Uchiwa Mayai Leikai

6. Mr Sagolsem Brajamani (30 years) S/o Naran of Uchiwa Mayai Leikai

7. Mr Ningombam Nandakumar (16 years) a student of Class X, S/o Yaima of Sugnu Napet

8. Mr Ningthoujam Kirankumar (15 years) a student of Class IX, S/o Yaima of Sugnu Napet

9. Mr. Moirangthem Ibochouba (15 years) S/o Manikeshor of Sugnu Napet

10. Ms. Thingujam Manglembi (16 years) D/o Manao Singh of Pombikhok, Kumbi

INJURED

1. Mr Moirangthem Nilakomol Singh of Khangabok Mayai Leikai, Thoubal District & Peon, District Co-Operative Office, Thoubal.

 

Official reports said, the civilians were killed in the crossfire. However, press reports and eyewitness account of the survivor Mr M. Nilakomol Singh indicated otherwise. Nilakomol is one of the polling personnel dragged down by irate CRPF men from the bus and shot. After he was struck by bullets, he fell down among the other three polling personnel. The CRPF men must have thought he was also dead, because he did not move. In a bid to cheat death, he remained immobile for more than two hours. (See 'Dead Man Talking', p. 21).

Md. Bashir Ahmad's bus was hired by the State government for transporting polling personnel to the three polling stations of Sugnu for elections to the Lower House of Indian Parliament. Besides his driver Md. Nawab Ali, he also brought along a friend Md. Laherrudin for company. These three were not as lucky as Nilakomol.

The ill-fated bus was carrying 37 polling personnel including unarmed security officials. A polling officer Akoijam Mangi Singh said,

... On hearing the gun shots ..... we all laid down on the floor of the bus to protect ourselves. The firing continued from 1.15 to about 1.45 p.m. After the shooting had stopped, some CRPF personnel came to the bus and called out civilians. As I was also one of the civilians in the front, I followed them a bit afterwards. When I saw the CRPF personnel kicking and hitting the four of them with butts I sensed danger and somehow managed to slipped back inside the bus...

Even though the exact scenario in the case of the other seven victims is yet to be ascertained, it is certain that they are all innocent civilians. Mangte Sangte of Tonsen village was waiting for a bus at the Nungoo Lamkhai waiting shed, when the shooting started. Nandakumar, Kirankumar and Ibochouba of Sugnu Napet who were reportedly shot dead by avenging CRPF men at the waiting shed, were friends. They had come to meet Kiran's girlfriend, who lives in the nearby Nungoo village.

The 10th victim Thingujam Manglembi was a simple village girl, who came roaming with three friends to the area. A friend Ibemcha said,

...Four of us including Manglembi had come to Nungoo Lamkhai side to explore. On the way, we saw some CRPF vehicle approaching and we decided to turned back. Suddenly the firing started and we ran for our lives. I guess, Manglembi was not lucky ...

The last two victims, Ngaseppam Thanil and Sagolsem Brajamani of Uchiwa, were coming back in their truck when they were reportedly dragged down from by irate CRPF men and shot.

Families of the civilian victims petitioned the Chief Minister of Manipur to institute a judicial inquiry to ascertain the facts of the incident. Instead, the Government of Manipur ordered an executive inquiry on 5 October.

There was widespread protests against the killing. A group of some twenty odd voluntary organisations of Manipur came together under the banner of Committee Against Atrocities on Civilians (CAAC). A mass movement against the Tonsen massacre was launched by senior citizens and it spread to all parts of Manipur.

On 16 November, the day of Shradh (a rite de passage after death) of the civilians killed, an unprecedented form of protest shook Manipur. Thousands of slogan shouting Meira Paibi women converged at Imphal during the night and confronted the State police. Many Meira Paibis were beaten up by the police. Statewide protests against targeting of civilians by security personnel still continues.