Villagers protest against Ichum Keirap Kom VA
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 12 2021: Villagers of Ichum Keirap Kom under Kangpokpi district have accused the village authority particularly village chairman Rekhupsong Kom and his coterie of trying to drive away the villagers who have been residing in the village for over 30 years since 1993/1994 .

On Thursday, the villagers staged a protest in the village holding placards inscribed with slogans such as "Identify and punish the mastermind behind the dispute", "We condemn attempt to drive away villagers", "Shameful act by Village authority", "Attempt being made to disunite villagers", "Ichum Keirap Kom made to divide into two groups", etc.

Speaking at the protest site, one of the protesters recounted that following the ethnic clashes in 1993/1994, the inhabitants of Mangkotjang, Song-phal and Taitat villages of Tamenglong districts fled the said villages andtook refuge in Ichum Keirap Kom village.

In January 1994, a meeting of Ichum Keirap Kom chairman Khochonthang and Mangkotjang king was held in the presence of the then Governor, which agreed for permanent residency of the refugees in Ichum Keirap Kom village.

Since then, the villagers have been living harmoniously for the last three decades.

"However, in 2018, Rekhupsong Kom was elected as the chairman of Ichum Keirap Kom.

He then proceeded to discriminate between the old and new inhabitants, apart from giving away land without consulting the villagers and indulging in corrupt practices.

In February this year, the villagers demanded the chairman to repay the funds he had embezzled and also to take back the land he gave away, during the general assembly meet of the village", the protestor said.

The protestor continued: "The despicable acts of the chairman slowly led to the disruption of the harmonious atmosphere in the village, prompting Kom Union, Kom Inpi and chieftains of villages around Ichum Keirap Kom to hold a meeting.

During the meeting, various resolutions were adopted including avoid discriminatory acts and promoting close relationships amongst the villagers.

"However, opposing the resolutions, a group of people led by the chairman started restricting the movement of the new residents on July 17 with the aim of forming a separate group named "Khopurup".

Rekhupsong Kom started assaulting the villagers and after some days, filed an FIR at the local police station accusing the villagers of rioting and using Kuki militant outfits to threaten others.

Apart from assaulting pregnant women during the chaos, the chairman-led group was also found to have submitted a written request to the DC concerned to drive away the new residents", the protestor conveyed.

Alleging that Rekhupsong Kom is the mastermind behind all of the aforementioned issues, the protestors said that it was regrettable of Haomee Federation to extend support to the claims without any verification.

The protestors then demanded unconditional release of the villagers who have been arrested, while cautioning of launching intense form of agitations in case offailing to do so.

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