Imphal, November 01 2009: At least 14 people belonging to other communities have been injured when they were attacked by a large group of people belonging to Sora village today.

The incident occurred at Minou Maring Khunutabi hills, adjacent to Sora village under Tengnoupal police station.

According to information received from the spot, some people of Minou Maring village came to Khunutabi hills to level earth so that a settlement can be made there.

Surface levelling work had been initiated using a bull-dozer a few days back.

But as the Minou Maring villagers came there to continue with the surface levelling work this morning, a call was made from a Sora Masjid using loudspeakers to come out with weapons saying that Minou Maring villagers have come with arms in their hands.

After building up a tense situation using loudspeakers, a large number of Sora people armed with swords, clubs and other weapons attacked the dozer divers and his assistant as well as the Minou Maring villagers numbering 12 .

Dozer driver Nongthombam Hemanta (45) of Nambol Kakyai, his assistant Bruce Lee sustained injuries in the attack.

The Minou Maring villagers injured in the attack have been identified as Y Chongam (28), DK Ngosilpha (50), DW Angam (39), DW Zona (38), M Angmang (39), DW Koing (39), M Meba (40), Ph Leithil (38), Ph Mothil (30), L Komang (31), R Yaima (20) and DW Momo (30) .

All 14 of them sustained injuries on heads and different body parts because of attacks with swords, knifes and clubs.

They are under-going treatment at Rural Hospital, Kakching.

However, because of their serious conditions, dozer driver Hemanta, Y Chongam and DW Angam have been referred to RIMS.

In connection with the incident, the Maring Uparup Assembly has lodged a complaint at Tengnoupal police station.

The Assembly also sought necessary action against 12 assailants including Zilla Parishad Member Md Sabudin who aroused the mob and could be identified by the injured victims.

Speaking to The Sangai Express, president of the Maring Uparup Assembly Arso Maring said that the Minou Maring villagers were levelling at Khunutabi hills to make a settlement as they faced serious hardships in making settlements at hill-tops.

Claiming that Khunutabi belongs to Minou Maring village, Arso cited a court order which said that no one should raise any objection when Minou Maring villagers wish to make any settlement here.

Sora people launched the attack even as they knew that the land belongs to Minou Maring village on the pretext that two communities professing different religions cannot settle together in the area, Arso asserted.

The assailants have also taken away one driving licence belonging to Ph Mothil, one bag containing Rs 50,000 in cash brought for purchasing fuel for the dozer and also five mobile phones.

The assailants also damaged the dozer.

Saying that there were instances of some Sora people building houses at the foothills of Minou Maring village, Arso Maring further accused Sora villagers of burning farm-houses belonging to Minou Maring in the past.

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