‘Is the government capable of seeing our pain?’: Asks family of Manipur attack victim

The family of Kshetrimayum Sushil, one of the three men killed in the Khongban Sanurok attack in Manipur on October 19, has questioned the government’s ability to protect civilians, saying repeated assurances of security have failed to prevent further loss of lives.

Sushil, 25, a daily wage earner from Uyumpok Mamang Leikai, is survived by his wife, Premi, and their three young children. His family said he had gone to a nearby hill to cut trees to earn a living when suspected Kuki militants opened fire in the peripheral areas of Imphal East and Kangpokpi districts on Sunday morning.

Speaking to India Today NE at her residence, Premi said the family was already struggling financially and depended on her husband’s daily earnings to make ends meet.

“My husband went to cut trees in the hills because of our financial condition. We have three children, and all of them are very young. The youngest will turn one on October 30, while the other two are nine years and three-and-a-half years old,” she said.

Questioning how she would raise the children without her husband, Premi recalled that she received information about the firing after Sushil had left for work. She said she repeatedly called him out of fear but received no response.

As news of the incident spread, people rushed to the spot, the family said. They had expected a prompt response from the security forces but were left disappointed, according to Sushil’s relatives.

Sushil’s sister, Rojibala, also questioned the government’s repeated assurances that security would be ensured in the violence-affected state. She said the continued firing had left her family mourning the loss of a loved one.

“Is the government capable of seeing our condition? How long are we going to suffer? We want the government to effectively safeguard our lives and property,” she said.

Sushil’s father, Deben, was devastated by the killing. He said the Assam Rifles handed over his son’s mobile phone to him on Monday morning through one of Sushil’s friends. Seeing the phone added to his distress as the family struggled to come to terms with the loss.

Two other men were killed in the October 19 attack: Arubam Ronil, 30, son of Raja, from Nongshum village, and Lairenlakpam Inaobi, 50, son of L Tombi, also from Nongshum village.

The families of the three victims are now mourning their losses while questioning the government’s failure, as they allege, to ensure the safety of civilians amid continuing violence in Manipur.