18 including 7 women hurt in Chandel land dispute
Source: The Sangai Express

Imp/Cdl, April 01 2016 : At least 18 people of two villages including seven women were injured when two neighbouring villages clashed in connection with a land dispute near Chandel district headquarters this morning.

Meanwhile, the district administration has imposed restrictions in the area under CrPC 144 so as to avert any further untoward incident.

Sources informed that around 150 people of Lambung village led by their chief came to Mantri Pantha village at around 8 am and they started dismantling fences, pig sties and other structures.

The Lambung villagers dismantled the structures on the ground that they were constructed after encroaching into their area.

Many villagers of Mantri Pantha sustained injuries as they tried to intervene and oppose the vandalism.

Map showing Chandel district

In the melee, 18 villagers (four women and six men from Mantri Pantha and three women and five men from Lambung) were injured.

It is said that the villagers of Lambung were armed with weapons like swords.

A strong police team rushed in and somehow brought the situation under control.

Further, the district administration has prohibited assembly of five or more persons and carrying of weapons in and around the disputed area.

The prohibitory order issued by the District Magistrate came into effect from 3 pm and it will remain in force till 2 pm of April 3 .

The same order has also prohibited carrying of sticks, stones, firearms, sharp weapons and other explosive areas in Lambung and Mantri Pantha villages.

It is said that the two villages have been in conflict since many years back over land.

At present, a case is pending in a Court.

The injured women have been identified as K Peitei (23), Juli (33), Kh Shangring (43) and Kh Sarita (23).All of them belong to Mantri Pantha village.

The male victims are D Mohonsing (65), SS Shelohring (25), Kh Damaray (46), Kh Thambal (65), D Thomson (58) and Kh Samson (30).With the exception of Samson, all of them have been brought to Shija Hospital.

Meanwhile, Lamkang civil organisations have condemned the clash between Mantri Pantha and Lambung Villagers at Chandel district headquarters today and appealed all not to create communal conflicts.

In a joint statement, the Lamkang Naga Kver Kunpun (LNKK), Lamkang Naga Sunu Lop (LNSL) and Lamkang Kurchuknao Kunpun (LKK) condemned the clash between the villagers of Mantri Pantha and Lambung village at Chandel district headquarters today and termed it unfortunate.

It stated that on receiving information about the incident, a peace mission of Lamkang civil bodies went to visit the victims but the teams were not allowed to proceed by a mob at Lambung bridge.

Moreover, the injured victims of Mantri Pantha village were also not allowed to pass through the said bridge by the mob, added the statement.

The Lamkang civil bodies then appealed villagers of both the villages not to create conflicts but to settle the issue amicably as peace loving neighbours as they have been settling together for the past many years and also in the interest of Naga people in Chandel.