Victim's wife points at NSCN-IM man
Source: The Sangai Express

Tengnoupal, September 27 2020: The wife of the Pastor killed in a violent clash between villagers of Aimol Chingnunghut and Aimol Khunyai, Tengnoupal district under Tengnoupal police station over a contested playground last afternoon has alleged that it was one cadre of NSCN-IM who thrashed her husband repeatedly leading to his death, reports our correspondent.

Speaking to media persons today, Deaya Leivon said that her husband Pastor Thangjalal Aimol went to the clash site to pacify the incensed groups.

But he was assaulted by one Alim alias Korsosong who is allegedly a cadre of NSCN-IM.

As the Pastor lay flat on the ground after he was assaulted on the face and chest by Alim alias Korsosong, the assailant thrashed the Pastor brutally again and again.

Subsequently, the Pastor succumbed to his injuries at hospital, Deaya Leivon said.

She then urged the authorities concerned to book and punish Alim alias Korsosong of Aimol Khunyai at the earliest.

Aimol Chingnunghut village chief L Leineichung claimed that the particular playground belongs to Aimol Chingnunghut Junior High Schools even though youngsters of both the villages used to play together at the ground.

He maintained that the playground should belong to the Government as Aimol Chingnunghut Junior High School is a Government school and none of the villages should claim ownership over it.

A joint meeting of the two villages was held at the office of the Tengnoupal DC and it was agreed that both the villages would stay away from the playground for sometime.

But some youngsters of Aimol Khunyai were seen playing football on the ground and it led to the violent clash, Leineichung said.

However, Aimol Khunyai village mantri L Rangneichung said that the violent clash erupted after boys playing football in the ground were attacked by villagers of Aimol Chingnunghut.

There were some structures of Aimol Chingnunghut Junior High School near the playground but they were shifted within the village boundary of Aimol Chingnunghut with due knowledge of Education Department after it was pointed out that the area where the structures stood belong to Aimol Khunyai, Rangneichung said.

He alleged that the violent confrontation which took place yesterday was instigated by a retired SDO and an employee of Home Department, both of whom belong to Aimol Chingnunghut.

Meanwhile, the United Committee Manipur (UCM) has appealed to both Aimol Chingnunghut and Aimol Khunyai to maintain sanity and avoid such violent conflicts in future.

It also appealed to the Government and police to pay special attention to the issue and see that no untoward incident takes places between the two neighbouring villages.

Saying that inter-village conflicts over land disputes have been very common in many parts of the State, the UCM urged the State Government to devise a policy which can effectively deal with all such matters peacefully.

It then suggested proper land survey and clear demarcation of village boundaries in order to avoid disputes and conflicts between neighbouring villages.

There is also no guarantee that there was no external influences in such conflicts between neighbouring villages which were otherwise living in complete harmony.

The Molnoi Area Welfare Council (MAWC) has strongly condemned the violent conflict that took place yesterday between Aimol Chingnunghut and Aimol Khunyai.

A press release issued by MAWC Chairman Lhunmang Haokip condoled the death of Pastor Thangjalal Aimol and conveyed solidarity to the bereaved family.

The chairman further appealed to leaders of both the villages to sit together and make all possible efforts to restore normalcy and harmony.

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