Manipur,IMPHAL, July 20: Suspected NSCN (K) militants burnt down an excavator at Makhinpang gorge, Tamenglong yesterday morning around 9:30am.
The land excavator which belongs to Kangjakpam Shyamkumar of Wangkhei Tokpram leikai was engaged in the construction of a 10 km long Taobam (Irang) to Punglam inter village Road.
The area where the Terex Vectra 760 excavator was set on fire is only four kms away from Taobam under Nungba PS.
Speaking to media persons, Punglam Village Authority Chairman Angam Phaomei lamented that the IVR had remained neglected for the past more than 30 years.
He added that after so many years of neglect from the government, the Taobam and Punglam village authorities had recently undertaken the construction on their own using two excavators.
“The two excavators are being fuelled by the MNREGS fund”.
He continued that, “Landscape cutting of the IVR is almost completed with just a km left”.
However work had to be stopped due to the advent of the monsoon and as such one of the excavator had left for Imphal due to some mechanical problems, while the other was left stationed at the area.
The village chairman said that yesterday morning around 30 suspected NSCN (K) cadres had arrived at the area.
Of the 30, six left immediately while the others remained and without any reasoning, set the excavator on fire, he continued.
The chairman who was also accompanied by several villagers and authorities of the other villages strongly condemned the incident.
Further appealing for the culprits to clarify on the incident, the villagers also lamented if they were unhappy with the development work undertaken in the area.
