Imphal, December 28 2009: State government should not try to divert the matter of Nongbrang village incident claiming that the two youths lynched were students.

Two villagers picked by the police should be released immediately without any condition, JAC formed by the villagers with regard to the December 22 Nongbrang incident demanded today.

Mention may be made that two youths lynched by the villagers of Nongbrang and its adjoining area in the aftermath of indiscriminating firing by a group armed undergrounds suspected to be KNF(P) group on December 22 last which injure to three women of the village.

Police while claiming that the two were students arrested two villagers who were among those villagers involved in the lynching incident.

Members of the JAC accompanied by a media team visited the three women, N Memcha, N Maloti and Ak Mema injured in the indiscriminating firing by the undergrounds at Shija Hospital, Langol where they were treating.

Memcha sustained bullet injuries at right hand, right thigh and knee, Moloti was hit by bullet at under knee while Mema at the leg palm.

During interaction with the media persons, injure women revealed that the two slain youths were coming together with the armed undergrounds asking why government claimed them to be innocent students.

The two slain youths were not villagers of the area.

Why government instead of trying to rectify the wrong deeds of the armed group maintaining Suspension of Operation with government turning towards the villagers, they asked alleging that government trying to protect the militants harassing the people.

Reiterating that both the slain youths were coming together with the combat dress armed militants, they expressed dissatisfaction with the government attitude towards the villagers.

Villagers were protesting against the excessive meted out by the militants, they added.

From the JAC side, it was stated that the two youths were victims of villagers who were irate when militants inflicted injuries to the three women, there is no reason of picking up two innocent villagers.

Government should initiate action to bring both sides to the negotiating table at the earliest.

If not the situation may become worse, the JAC warned.