Six Jessami villagers beaten up black & blue, taken to Nagaland
Tension grips Manipur-Nagaland border area
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, April 18 2012: Tension reign high in Manipur-Nagaland border area in Ukhrul district once again after six villagers of Jessami including a VDF driver were beaten up black and blue by some villagers from the neighbouring Melorie village and later taken inside Nagaland.

According to reports received from Jessami, around 400 people from Melori village of Nagaland came with all sorts of arms including guns and knives and beat up the six villagers of Jessami at around 10:30 am today.

The abducted villagers have been identified as W Mizovei, a VDF driver; Misewelo; W Emilki; W Zakilou; W Mupezo and W Welhi.

The incident took place after villagers of Melorie forcefully ploughed the land which is under the jurisdiction of Jessami village.

After the villagers of Jessami stopped them from ploughing in their area, the six villagers of Jessami went to plough their respective land.

On seeing the six Jessami villagers ploughing the field which they have already started, a large number of villagers from Melorie came along with guns, knives, spears and sticks and beat up the six villagers severely before being taken to their village in Nagaland.

Villagers of Jessami have reported the matter to the Jessami Police station and a case has been registered.

The matter has also been brought to the notice of Chief Secretary of Manipur, who has subsequently contacted his Nagaland counterpart for releasing the six Jessami villagers today itself.

However, the Chief Secretary of Nagaland has intimidated him that the six villagers would be released by tomorrow.

It may be mentioned that the villagers of Melorie have been encroaching upon and using the lands of Jessami village under the protection of Nagaland Arm Police (NAP), which has opened a post within the territory of Manipur.

This led to regular tensions between the villagers of the two villages on either side of Manipur-Nagaland border.

Nagaland Government also constructed a Guest House and a Fishing Rest House there.

However, after the activities of Melorie villagers and NAP in Jessami were reported through this newspaper, the Government of Manipur took the decision of deploying IRB personnel at Jeshami and even upgraded the Jeshami Police Station for the security of villagers.

Consequently, tension between the two neighbouring villages had cooled down.

But after IRB personnel were removed from the border village, tension started brewing, thus culminating to the present incident.

The villagers of Jeshami have appealed to the state government to safeguard their lives and properties and help them in protecting the territory of Manipur.

Comment