LNKR alleges
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Imphal, April 17 2019:
In what could be considered as a post poll violence, the Liangmai Naga Katimai Ruangdi (LNKR), the apex student body of Liangmai community, alleged that the villagers of Poudel Basti under Irang Part-I along IT road resorted to violence against the villagers of Thonglang villages on April 14 .
A mob from Poudel Basti "destroyed" a house of one MK Mawangbou of Thonglang and also assaulted a youth of Thonglang, LNKR alleged .
The apex Liangmai student body then cautioned the villagers of Poudel Basti under Irang Part-I to restrain themselves from such activities in the future.
Narrating the sequence of incidents through a press statement made available to Newmai News Network, the Benalun Phom, the apex body of all Thonglang villages said that some youths from Thonglang villages were deployed as NPF agents on the polling day in all the polling stations within their jurisdiction.
"It was reported that our youths were manhandled by some villagers of Poudel Basti in the polling station under Poudel Basti, and in the process one of our boys was badly beaten up", alleged the Benalun Phom and added that the posters and flags of the NPF were damaged by villagers in Poudel Basti even before the election.
On the evening of April 14 at around 7 pm when some of Thonglang youths were in a shop at Poudel Basti, they were rounded up by a group of Poudel Basti villagers armed with "deadly" knives and sticks, and in defence to the situation, Thonglang youths got into scuffle, said the Benalun Phom.
The Benalun Phom further said that one villager from Poudel Basti who came with a "Khukuri (Knife)" was overpowered by Thonglang youths and advised him to behave himself.
Claiming that two of their members were injured in the incident and one is still hospitalized, the Benalun Phom conveyed that same mob of Poudel Basti came back and destroyed a house of one MK Mawangbo in Rangbow village (12th Mile), who was not involved in the issue.
As Sagar Gewali, the ADC member of Irang Part-I had claimed responsibility of the mob, he is liable to justify his act before the court of Benalun Phom within 48 hours from the issue of this statement, the Benalun Phom said and cautioned to take responsibility of all the untoward incident that might arise if fails to adhere to the directive.
"Meanwhile, we are appalled by the one sided statement of a respected organization like KSO.
This unfortunate issue which was erupted within the village youths should be left to be dealt by the villagers themselves", said Benalun Phom.