House of Ngainga chief torched, younger brother tortured
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Nomita / Pamreiso Shimray

Imphal/Ukhrul, October 16 2012: A house belonging to chief of Ngainga village Rs Khangamkhai was torched by a mob at about 7am on Tuesday.

Following the incident, situation in the village is highly charged with Police keeping strict vigil.

Local sources said that in support of Village Development Council of Ngaiga, a group of about 40 men armed with SBBL guns, daggers, axes and hammers turned up at the chief's house in the morning and picked a quarrel over the timing of meeting convened today, before setting the house on fire.

On receiving the report, Ukhrul police rushed to the village and brought the situation under control.

Police said the fire damaged properties worth few lakhs.

It was informed that the attackers themselves doused the fire and saved the house from complete damage.

However, the interiors of the house including furniture and utensils were vandalised by the mob.

Headman's wife Rs.Ngalaton said that Rs.2 lakh kept in almirah was found missing and the damaged property was worth Rs.7 lakh.

One of the attackers also fired an SBBL gun in the air further fueling tension in the village.

In the ensuing melee, the attacking mob forcibly caught the village headman in-charge Rs.Khaningkhai, a younger brother of the village chief and took him to village court with his hands tied behind and detained there for about three hours.

It was said that he was released at around 10am.Fortunately, the headman was not in the house at the time of attack.

Only his minor son Ngachanmung (9), mother AS Rathemva (92) and sister Pamreiphy (50) were at home.

The attacking group, it was informed, was led by VDC chairman Rs.Jacob.

Locals said the incident was an outcome of feud between the chief's party and VDC over the prolong suspension of NREGS works in the village.

The VDC, as per sources, was formed recently by a section of villagers without the consent of village authority.

Further, it was informed that the VDC has been trying to withdraw NREGS fund that has been allegedly blocked by the village chief.

However, the village authorities contended that a new VDC has not been constituted after its term ended in Dec 2011.Hence, the chief's party argued that the so-called VDC is self-styled and is not endorsed by rightful authority.

About 35 policemen arrived at the village before noon and have been putting up to diffuse tension.

Meanwhile, speaking to Hueiyen Lanpao over the phone, Village Chief Rs Khangamkhai informed that the development programmes taken up under NREGS in the village is neither for his own development nor for the development of a few people in the village.

It is for the development of the whole village.

He asserted that the Village Development Council has been instituted in the interest of few people who have been clamouring for taking over the works of NREGS in the village.

"We should not only think of money in taking up developmental works but do our duties sincerely", the Village chief observed, adding that 'development can only be brought about if we all work together hand in hand' .

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