Rongmei womenfolk protest arrest
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 08 2016: Womenfolk of Namthanjang Rongmei village, New Keithelmanbi in Senapati district today staged a sit-in protesting the reported arrest of three villagers by the police.

According to the locals, three villagers were arrested today morning by Sapermeina police following a complaint lodged by former secretary of the village.

Protesting the incident womenfolk of Namthanjang Rongmei village staged a sit-in-protest at the village today.

The arrested individuals are treasurer of village Church committee Gaikhatlung Gangmei (42) s/o Lankaulung, Church deacon Geihenpao Kamei (50) s/o Mathiuhom and Church secretary Namthanlung Riamei (40) s/o Katangam (village chief).

They were arrested around 7 am today from Langjing near HVS brick field, the villagers said.

Secretary of Namthanjang Rongmei village meira paibi, Romaliu Riamei said that the former village secretary Makudinang Riamei was banished from the village on charge of money laundering and looting more than Rs 2.90 lakh of NREGS fund of 2015 and 2016.She stated that Makudinang has been the village secretary from 2003 till Jan 26, 2016 .

He was removed from his post and R Manjagoan (43) s/o (L) R Simon was appointed as the new village secretary.

Until then he (Makudinang) was in charge of selling village soil to private firms where the profit was to be used for developmental works of the village.

When the audit meeting was held on Feb 15, 2016, he failed to turn up and produce the relevant documents and data, she alleged.

Further he was given a deadline till 4 pm of that day to meet the village elders and solve the issue.

He again failed to turn up.

Later on that very same day, village elders went to compromise, but Makudinang's eldest son R Thuingamlung (35) fired gun-shots at the villagers, she added.

After the incident, infuriated villagers vandalized Makudinang's house and he was banished from the village as resolved in the village general body meeting.

She stated that he (Makudinang) was also charged of forging the signature of village NREGS chairman R Lungthuilung and stealing large amount of money for himself.

Further, she added that the former secretary wrongly informed the police that his daughter R Thanjeilung (32) was harassed, which is entirely false.

Thanjeilung told media persons that no such incidents had happened to her and the statements made by her father are wrong.

Villagers demanded that the arrested innocent villagers be released at the earliest without any condition.

They also urged the authorities concerned to arrest the persons involved in wrongly informing the police and looting huge amount of money from the public.

Villages also threatened to launch series of protest and agitation if the arrested villagers are not released.

Romaliu Riamei further clarified that the media report about vandalisation of the house of R Katangam (village chief) was false.

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