Victims of street vigilantism seek justice
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 30 2023:
Khumbongmayum Yotchabi has sought justice after he and his friend were 'wrongly' implicated as persons aiding the Kukis in connection with an incident which occured on June 28 at Nongpok Sekmai.
Addressing media persons this afternoon at Manipur Press Club, Khumbongmayum Yotchabi of Singjamei Wangma Bheigyabati Leikai said that the charges being levelled with him and his friend Mutum Bobo of Lilong Chajing Awang Leikai are unfounded.
He narrated that on June 28, he and his friend were transporting a consignment of 28 bags of Lungis and 2 bags of Phaneks on a mini truck (Tata Yodha) to Leihaoram at his spouse's residence after receiving an order from one Wungkathing Ragui of Asang Khullen under Kamjong district.
Enroute to Leihaoram, they were stopped at Nongpok Sekmai by members of the local youth club and Meira Paibi who inspected the content of the consignment expressing suspicion they could be transporting arms and ammunition for Kukis.
Even as the locals could not find anything they were suspecting and the owner of the goods, Wungkathing Ragui, turned up at the spot to claim the consignment, the mini truck and consignment were unfortunately set ablaze by the locals, he said.
They were further detained and dubbed as Kuki sympathizers.
On this unfounded charge, the house of his friend Bobo was razed to the ground and a mob also tried to burnt his house down, said aggrieved Kh Yotchabi.Even as the bid to burn down his house was foiled, he and his family have been banished by the locals following the incident, he said.
Asserting that they have, in no manner helped the Kukis, and charge of carrying arms and ammunition was nullifed at the spot itself with the owner laying claim of the goods they were transporting, Yotchabi expressed that the unjust treatment meted to them is very disheartening.
Saying that they have done nothing wrong to hurt the sentiment of the people or his localities, he urged all to stop victimising them again and again for things they have not done.