ZCOs, VA condemn, demand action against perpetrators
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 18 2021: Strongly condemning the violence at Pongringlong village under Kangpokpi district on Thursday, Zeliangrong Civil Organisations (ZCOs) have urged the state government to take befitting actions against the perpetrators.

In a release, ZCOs media and publicity cell said that it is "extremely pained and condemned the inhuman, unlawful and violent acts committed by some persons at Pongringlong (Charoi pandongba) village by taking the law into their own hands" .

It also regretted that though the district magistrate imposed 144 CrPC the incident occurred and five vehicles, houses and properties worth lakhs of rupees were burnt down in full view of the security forces.

The incident could have been averted had the government taken necessary, suitable and appropriate action in accordance with the prohibitory orders, claimed the statement.

ZCOs, comprising Zeliangrong Baudi, Zeliangrong Youth Front and Zeliangrong Students' Union, further stated as that the degree of crime perpetrated upon the citizens is intolerable and unacceptable both in customary practices and legal purview, the government should not shirk from its duty and responsibility of taking up befitting action against the perpetrators as per law of the land at the earliest so that such violent acts does not recur in future.

Pongringlong Village Customary PEI and Village Authority also condemned the June 17 incident where several houses were burnt down.

While condemning the incident, the two village bodies said that the villagers in defence of the village's age-old customary practices from the hands of "offensive intruders" confronted and resisted the invading Joint Action Committee (JAC) led mob, resulting in casualties and burning down of several houses, shops and vehicles, and loss of properties worth crores of rupees.

In a joint statement, the bodies contended that "the ex-communicated family members" purportedly instigated JAC leaders to resort to violence and said that the mob comprising hundreds of drunken youths came to the village and destroyed dwelling houses, causing physical injuries to the villagers.

The truth behind the incident is being concealed to make the public and leaders think that the village authority is committing wrongdoing.

But the fact is that "the perpetrators" have been committing a number of crimes against the villagers, for which they have been excommunicated from the village as per the customary laws and practices, it said.

The joint statement went on, "If they are to remain in the village as equal citizens, they are to be subjected to village authority and administration.

No individual can play or challenge or overrule the village authority.

The law of the land must be obeyed and strictly.

It is the absolute authority of the village authority and the government to make its citizens abide by the law and ethic of the land".

It also accused the JAC of acting against the government's order restricting public gathering by mobilizing the mob and put others at risk of Covid infection.

The joint statement also said that the village authority was blamed for the vehicular accidental death of one person on March 20, 2021 but it was justified by the post-mortem report that the nature of death was accidental.

The two village bodies also said that the injured person admitted to RIMS is said to have tested Covid positive, possibly infected from the mob gathering, and appealed to the government to look into the matter with urgency and also to take up measures to compensate for the loss and injuries incurred during the mob attack.

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