NSCN 'pressure,' police 'inaction,' complicates the Chadong feud
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, June 02 2012:
A day after the shameless act of violence in broad daylight in Ukhrul town, there is an interesting twist to the story concerning the feud of Chadong village with a tell-tale indication of "police inaction" and "external interference" .
The brutal violence on Friday, in which the "headman group" was attacked by "anti-headman group," was not an isolated case.
There have been a series of minor fracases in the village.
However, the latest incident was a chain of reaction after the bizarre case which broke out on the intervening night of May 8 and 9, in which a person was seriously bashed up, two residential houses demolished and two minor girls were abducted and detained in a jungle.
In following days after the bizarre case, Ukhrul police have investigated and held hearings of both the parties in conflict.
The victims have eventually lodged FIRs on May 10 at Litan police station and were all copied to state Chief Minister, Home Minister and DGP.
The relevant officials have taken due cognizance of the reports, but the police have failed to initiate any action in the cases.
Reliable reports said the police are unable to take action citing pressure from the "external pressure" clearly hinting to NSCN (IM) involvement.
This can be corroborated by yesterday's hearing reportedly held at Wung Tangkhul Region (WTR) office in Ukhrul.
The victims also stated the police have remained unmoved despite several reminders.
On May 9, the Phungyar SDO and Ukhrul SDPO convened a meeting of both the parties at Chadong and a formal agreement was signed to initiate the case under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) .
Subsequently, another hearing of both the parties was held at Litan police station on May 19 with the attendance of Ukhrul SDPO, in which a formal agreement was signed stating the accused will be arrested and if found guilty, the culprits shall have to compensate for the "demolition" and put to trial for the alleged "abduction" .
The series of crimes, as gauged from confirmed instances, were all perpetrated against the "pro headman group." On May 8, two persons intruded into the house of Jobson Kasar (65) and he was seriously beaten black and blue at about 10pm.In this wake, Lamlai police arrived at Chadong village and took Benjamin Kashung into custody for interrogation.
Later in the wee hours of May 9, Jobson's two minor daughters Achui (16) and Awon (14) (name changed) were forcibly taken away and kept in the jungle for hours together.
Meanwhile, a mob demolished the residential houses of James Kasar, Chadong village headman and Wungnaoshang Kasar.
In retaliatory action, five persons from "anti-headman group" were bashed up at Manipur Press Club by its rivals on May 12 .
The entire series of violence has baffled many minds.
That, the Tangkhul civil societies have visited Chadong village on May 9 and supposedly assessed the entire situation.
But, their silence has surprised the right thinking citizens and all the likes.
Leave aside the other violence, the civil societies particularly the Tangkhuls ought to decry the kidnapping of two minors.
In a written representation, the victims' parents and child activists have lodged a complaint regarding the kidnapping case to Manipur State Commission for Women and also to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights.
The traumatised minor girls, sources said, now pinned their hope only on these bodies for justice.
The aggrieved victims have raised many pertinent questions.
Aren't the law enforcement agencies instituted to protect the rights of citizen and penalise the law violators? Who are they listening to-the constitutionally empowered bodies or the armed group? Is the Okram Ibobi Singh government covertly endorsing the existence of debatable "parallel governments" in Manipur? .
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