Nagaland VGs terrorizing Seraphung villagers in Ukhrul
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, June 24 2014:
Threatened by armed village guards from Kanjang village under Meluri sub division of Nagaland state, the villagers of Saraphung in Jessami sub division in Ukhrul district have been remaining off their fields since May 14 last.
On that day, armed village guards from Nagaland resorted to burning down of 4 huts apart from looting clothing and agricultural tools, rice, 1 barrel of diesel, 2 sets of tractor teeth and money amounting to Rs.75,000/- belonging to the Seraphung villagers, according to headman of Seraphung Village.
Talking to Hueiyen Lanpao today, Headman L.Yaruingam lamented that in spite of appraisals to the Home department of Manipur government through Ukhrul district authority, no action has been seen taken up by the government till date, even though the armed village guards of neighbouring village in Nagaland are still camping in the fields of Seraphung village by hoisting their red flag.
The village guards stationed at the border village have threatened to kill the villagers of Seraphung villagers, if they step into the field, the headman said.
If the situation remains this way for long, villagers of Seraphung would not be able to carry out their agricultural works and this may in turn lead to starvation, Yaruingam expressed concern.
Demanding recruitment of VDFs to protect the villages of Seraphung and Wahong in the border with Nagaland state from being attacked by the village guards, the headman recounted that the village guards of Kanjang village damaged the irrigation cannel of Seraphung village on April 12 last and again two villagers namely Vs.
Ningwong and M.Veto were seriously beaten at around 11 pm of May 13 last.
Villages of Jessami sub-division in Ukhrul district of Manipur have remained the targets of frequent threats from neighbouring village guards, he added.
Nagaland villages at the border are employing armed village guards each numbering 30 to 50 who seem to have the freedom to use their arms issued by the Nagaland Government.
Besides harassing the neighbouring villagers of Manipur with blank firing and assaults, the armed village guards often resort to carry out operation by even setting ablaze huts and properties, Yaruingam said.
The village headman further recalled that the armed village guards from Meruli crossed the state boundary and intruded into the Manipur border upto 5kms in 2012 and harassed the villagers of Jessami who were working in the field.
When the OC of Jessami Police station along with some VDF personnel rushed to the spot, he was overpowered by the Nagaland VGs armed with 303 rifles within the Manipur jurisdiction, while his driver was kidnapped and tortured only to release the next day with a fractured rib.
No medical reimbursement was even extended to the victim who was brought and treated at Shija Hospitals in Imphal.
Expressing strong dissatisfaction over the apathy of the state government of Manipur, the Village headman drew the attention of the authority to ensure protection of the border villagers of the state.