Post poll violence hits Kpi, Poudel Basti villagers brutally assaulted, CSOs demand arrest of culprits
Source: The Sangai Express

Kangpokpi, April 15 2019: An ugly post-poll violence hit Irang Part-I in Kangpokpi District last night when groups of people from Thonglang Atongba and Thonglang Akutpa allegedly attacked villagers of Poudel Basti in Irang Part-I at around 7.30 pm.

In the attack, three people sustained injuries and while two of them escaped the other one abducted by the attackers was later rescued by a combined team of Kangpokpi police and Assam Rifles from 12 Miles the same evening.

Two of the victims were brought to Kangpokpi DHQs this morning and admitted at the hospital .

They are identified as Raj Kumar Sunal (33), s/o (L) Lal Bahadur Sunal of Haspukhri Irang Part-II staying at his temporary residence at Poudel Basti in Irang PartI and Romesh Tamang (35), s/o Sriman Tamang of Poudel Basti while the other one is Man Bahadur Sunal (48), s/o (L) Dhan Bahadur of the same village.

Poudel Basti is located 16 Kms away from Kangpokpi district headquarters.

While speaking to mediapersons at Kangpokpi DHQs this noon, Raj Kumar Sunal, who sustained injury in his left abdomen, said that yesterday "Being Baishaki (New Year) I invited my sister for dinner.

When I returned after dropping my sister some unknown 7/8 persons suddenly caught me and started beating without any reason.

I ran away from them to report the matter to the village authority since I am new in the village.

However, they caught me again and put a gun on my forehead warning me not to shout or else they will blast off my head.

Then, they started assaulting me again stating that while you are living in Nagas area you voted for the BJP.

"I told them that I do not even have a voter card to cast my vote since it has been cancelled some years back and I am yet to apply for the same but they continued assaulting me and brought me upto 12 Miles where they tied my hands and legs and threatened to kill me along with a few more others when they are brought", narrated Raj Kumar Sunal.

He continued, "I beseeched that I am innocent and I have done nothing wrong to any people but they didn't let me speak and kept on torturing me while adding that there are more people around 40/50 at 12 Miles and talked in Nagamese" .

Another victim, Romesh Tamang said that the assailants did not spell out any reason but assaulted using their hands, legs and sticks.

"However, despite my head being broken during the assault I managed to escape from their clutch and hide," he added.

Poudel Basti Authority secretary, Raju Gewali's wife Punam Gewali said that some people known and unknown came to their residence and asked her mother in-law for water but when they entered the house one person asked the whereabouts of her husband and started looking at every nook and corner of the house even over the ceiling and below the bed.

She continued "the men also asked me how much money my husband received from the BJP during election and told me to bring them out while frisking and checking all our Almirah and also threatened to take me away if I don't bring them my husband.

Gyan Bahadur Tamang (45), s/o Laxman Tamang, Chairman, Poudel Basti said that another group led by Thonglang Atongba Village secretary asked his wife about him.

Meanwhile, All Manipur Gorkha Students' Union (AMGSU) strongly condemned the incident while terming it as an 'attempt to murder the innocent Gorkha community' .

It also said that Gorkha community respect Naga brothers and treat them as responsible neighbors as "we have been living peacefully for generations and the Gorkha community wants same treatment and relationship on the part of the Naga brethren in the future" .

Any misunderstanding we can be settled peacefully through negotiation, said AMGSU and added it wants peace in Irang areas.

AMGSU will not remains silent if such incidents occurred in the near future, it warned.

The Kuki Students' Organization (KSO) Sadar Hills also vehemently condemned the violence at Poudel Basti yesterday night.

KSO Sadar Hills president, Thangminlen Kipgen said, "We strongly urge the district administration, the district police and other authority concerned to arrest those assailants sooner than later as it has been reported that their faces, names and addresses are known" .

Meanwhile, Manipur Gorkha Welfare Union also separately condemned the incident.

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