Haraothel confrontation Kpi CSOs blame Govt
Source: The Sangai Express
Kangpokpi, December 17 2017:
Blaming the State Govern-ment for the ugly and violent incident which occurred yesterday at Haraothel, the civil society organizations of Kangpokpi district have vehemently condemned the incident .
Speaking to media persons on behalf of the Kangpokpi CSOs, Thang-minlen Kipgen, president of Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO) Sadar Hills, expressed doubt that the seasonal violence against the people of Haraothel is a mere coincidence as it has now become a regular affair during the onset of Christmas .
He continued that the State Government will have none but themselves to blame for any unfortunate incident as the Government has been continually updated and appealed to come up with a peaceful and an amicable solution for the past many years .
While acknowledging and appreciating the role played by DC Kangpokpi and SP Kangpokpi, Kipgen further said that the final solution rests in the hands of the present State Government and it would be wrong to blame any side of the villages for any untoward incident as they are mere puppets in the hands of the politicians who are politicising the issues of the State .
Recalling the incident which occurred yesterday, the president said that upon hearing about the incident, Kuki Inpi, Kangpokpi district and KSO Sadar Hills immediately rushed to the spot to discover the facts of the incident .
He claimed that at around 11 am yesterday, some intoxicated locals of Senjam Chirang and Senjam Khunou, were seen setting the wooden bridge of Haraothel on fire .
The intoxicated individuals also had a good supply of oil and carried machetes and sticks .
He continued that upon seeing the burning bridge, the villagers of Haraothel, mostly women, confronted the culprits and in the commotion, they were attacked mercilessly and one lady was also seriously injured .
More people had gathered at the site after the confrontation and as the situation turned ugly, police personnel of both Kangpokpi District and Imphal West chased away the villagers of Senjam Chirang and Senjam Khunou from the site (Haraothel/Tangnaum village), he narrated and added that during the confrontation , in the presence of police personnel, gun shots were heard from both sides of the two villages .
He also said that the injured persons were then escorted by SP Kangpokpi to RIMS for medical treatment and MLC reports were taken in the presence of KSO Imphal members .
"The police personnel although succeeded in quelling the conflict were unable to nab any culprit involved in inciting the violence by putting up banners or by setting the bridge on fire even though witnesses were able to clearly identify those involved", claimed the KSO president .
He further conveyed that it is unclear if the village of Haraothel will be secure or not as it is doubtful that the district administration of Imphal West will be able to keep the miscreants on check .
KSO Sadar Hills further condemned the news report of some electronics and print media for allegedly presenting the story only from one side .
He alleged that some media house did not attempt to present the details of the incident which included some intoxicated locals of the neighbouring villages trying to set the bridge on fire and cut off the only lifeline of Haraothel village .
He also added that even the large banners and placards put up by the two valley villages on the hills of Haraothel claiming it to be their ancestral land, were ignored by some media .
The president also clarified that the news report of dismissing the challenge petition of the Government order in connection with the allotment of land to Directorate of Youths Affairs and Sports for NSU due to the failure of the petitioner to produce any evidence, is baseless .
He said that the withdrawal of the petition is correct and but it is not because the petitioner was unable to produce evidence but to file a stronger petition which is currently under process in the Court .
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