The stand off at Khurai
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: April 13, 2011 -
ON THE night of March 12, 2011 Yendrembam Naoba, roughly 22 years old was apprehended by Ngangom Raghu, 50 years plus near his residence which also served as a grocery shop . Naoba was a resident of Khurai Kongpal Laishram Leikai and Ngangom Ranjit resided just opposite the road, Imphal Ukhrul road, in Khurai Konsam Leikai.
As per reports Raghu alarmed his neighbours that Naoba was caught in the act of committing a burglary in his residence cum shop. It seems Naoba might have earlier been involved in cases involving petty theft and though news of his 'capture' could well have reached his family and fellow Leikai residents the case was put in cold storage for the night. However, all hell broke loose the next day.
It all began with a statement of one Memchoubi Devi resident of Konsam Leikai, i.e. Raghu's Leikai that Naoba had been beaten to death and dumped in a pond within Konsam Leikai's limits.
Subsequently Naoba's dead body was indeed found in a pond the next day. Raghu and his supporters claimed that on being chased, Naoba had jumped into the pond where he drowned.
A cursory examination of the dead body however revealed several deep bruises and welts on the body, indicative that the victim lost his life due to excessive beating.
Enraged people of Kongpal Laishram Leikai led by their intrepid and able womenfolk crossed the road and descended on the residence cum shop of Raghu to seek 'an eye for an eye' justice.
The police intervened and prevented the happening of any untoward incident. There was a slanging match between Laishram Leikai's womenfolk and the police, but the tension was defused.
In most other Leikais some sort of agreement could have been reached but not in this case in Khurai. Meanwhile, on March 16, 2011 Ng Raghu was arrested by the police though the act did nothing to assuage the anger Kongpal Laishram Leikai's womenfolk.
The feistiness, the single minded purpose to exact 'justice' and that sometimes noxious quality to stamp home the message, we act in dead earnest, regardless, epitomised by the foot stomping and vocal womenfolk all combined and an attempt was made to storm the residence cum shop of Raghu. Time after time their attempts were foiled by the police.
But the undeterred womenfolk of Kongpal Laishram Leikai prowled and prowled laying siege to the residence of Raghu. And the police kept a constant vigil to prevent violence and destruction.
But not for nothing are Khurai folks known for their resolute determination to get their way. Today at around 3 pm, about 80 womenfolk of Kongpal Laishram Leikai finally breached the police lines and promptly flattened the house of Ng Raghu. Mission accomplished and the Khurai tradition have been kept intact. The inmates of the house had apparently fled the scene earlier.
The story could have ended here, and the police could have taken over the case in full. The only niggling doubt is that since the confrontation was between two adjacent Khurai Leikais, could today's act invite retaliation from the other side, i.e. Khurai Konsam Leikai.
Everybody sincerely hopes not, and we all place our trust in the police.
Perhaps a speedy dispensation of justice will help bury the bitterness the case has spewed out.
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