Order on Moreh Traffic

Ukhrul, 12 May 2012

CHADONG VILLAGE AUTHORITY
PS/PO Litan, Ukhrul District, Manipur

This release is a clarification to the news reports published in several news papers on 10 & 11 May 2012 regarding the incidents of 8 & 9 May which took place in Chadong Village in Ukhrul Districts.

Job kasar does not have a house in Chadong as he sold his house to Mr Asang Kasar some years back. He is currently living in the house of his elder sister Philayi Kashung (wife of Ngatangmi Kashung) of Chadong village. Job blamed one Mr. Malungchang Kashung, a cousin of Ngatangmi Kashung, of instigating Ngatangmi to force him out from his current residence. In this situation, on 8 May around 6 pm, Mr Horam Kashung, the son of Mr Malungchang came to Job, who was drunk at that time, to clarify the charges levelled against his father. This led to a family feud, but at the end the neighbours came to stop the parties.

That night, around midnight, all of a sudden some armed personnel in four gypsies landed in Chadong accompanied by two residents of the village namely Mr. Yaomi Kasar and Mr Ashang Kasar. They rushed to the house of Mr. Malungchang and tried to arrest his eldest son Mr Berlin.

By this time the woman folks of the village have gathered and they managed to snatch back the eldest son from the hands of the armed personnels. Surprisingly, one Mr. Benjamin Kashung, a close relative of Ngatangmi, was taken away by those armed persons (accompanied by Mr. Yaomi Kasar and Mr Ashang Kasar). This was done without any arrest Memo or any intimation, and the villagers were left behind with utter shock and feared his fate.

By this time most villagers were gathered, and infuriated by this act of the armed personnels and the two villagers who were accompanying them. The immediate retaliation by the uncontrollable mob was to vandalize the house of Mr Yaomi Kasar and Ashang Kasar.

The next morning, 9 May, the Litan Police OC and SDPO, Ukhrul and SDO Phungyar and their teams arrived at Chadong and made a spot enquiry. Yaomi Kasar, Ashang Kasar, James Kasar and others also arrived at the village. James is the elder brother of Yaomi and he is also the disputed Head Man of Chadong Village. The officers concern have informed that a meeting of the two parties have been called on 14 May and the Chadong Village Authority looks forward to an amicable solution to the issue while seeking justice for those wrongly put under difficult situation.

Some Clarifications:

1. The fight with Job Kasar and Mr Horam was a family feud and the villagers were not involved in it, except to stop them from fighting. There is no question of attempt to murder as it is being alleged in some papers.
2. The charges of kidnapping of two daughters of Mr Job is baseless. Instead, it was the women who were keeping them safe as there was no one in their house by that time and they were also apprehensive that the girls can get hurt in that chaotic moment..
3. Job Kasar is not a Village Authority as reported in Sangai Express of 11 May.
4. The claim of loss of Rs 15 Lakh, in cash and property, including that of 2 Lakh of MGNREGS, is surprising as the mob at that midnight in full darkness will have no clue of where money is hidden, if at all the brothers, Yaomi Kasar & James Kasar, have hidden ill-gotten wealth in their almost abandoned house.
5. The incident has no connections whatsoever with Mapithel Dam or its compensation, rehabilitation & resettlement issues or any other Organization or Committee. If at all Mr James and his brother Yaomi Kasar or Mr Ashang is linking up this incident to dam and anti – dam groups it is to divert the attention from the actual incident of the night of 8 May. It is important therefore that the relevant authorities investigate the facts and ensure that justice be restored.
6. The matter is also not related to the recent election or as charged that the NPF candidate instigated the incident.

Sincerely,
M. Ringai, VA
MH. Ramkahao, VA
K. Valungchang, Village Elder