Villagers threaten
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 24 2015 :
Villagers of Marang Ching Part-III in Tamenglong district have threatened that they will disrupt works related to laying of railway track at the village if an arrested youth leader is not released by 8 am of December 25 .
The arrested youth has been identified as Gongchalung Gangmei, president of Marang Ching Village Youth.
He was pulled up by police in connection with a violent incident occurred in the village on November 28 last.
Village chief Narolung Gondamei said that Railways official along SDO concerned visited the village to survey land for laying railway track of Tupul-Imphal line on November 28 last.
During the course of survey, one Thuankulung Gangmei (33) of the village claimed a portion of village land as his land to the visiting officials.
When the villagers asked him to produce proof of his claim, he allegedly threatened the villagers to shoot them if they encroach on his land, Narolung Gondaimei said.
Incensed by the response of Thuankulung Gangmei, the villagers thrashed him.
However, he ran away and hid among a group of armed persons, Narolung Gondaimei said.
Claiming that the villagers have been practising jhum cultivation on the said land since the past many years, the village chief alleged that Thuankulung Gangmei's intention was to receive more compensation from the Railways.
After the incident, Thuankulung Gangmei fled the village and never returned home.
The village elders and chief gave him time till December 4 to return home and resolve the matter, Narolung Gondaimei said.
As he did not turn up till December 20, the villagers vandalised his house and banished him from the village on December 21, he said.
In the meantime, All Marang Ching Village Youth president Gongchalung Gangmei was arrested by police after Thuankulung Gangmei lodged an FIR against 14 villagers regarding November 28 incident yesterday.
Infuriated over the incident, Thuankulung Gangmei's elder brother's house had also been ransacked by the villagers.
Saying that the village has a customary law to ostracise the villager, who indulges in wrongful conduct, the village chief said that no family member and relatives of Thuankulung Gangmei would be allowed to enter Marang Ching village until police release Gongchalung Gangmei.