IMPHAL, July 3: Sihai villagers today deposited the bodies of the three victims of June 30 Phangrei peak clash at the Wung Tangkhul Region office of the NSCN (IM) at Phungreitang, after the authorities denied their demand to bury the dead bodies at the Phangrei peak.
Sources informed that family members had received the dead bodies from the Ukhrul Police this morning around 11:35am to observe a condolence meeting at the Tangkhulong ground.
It may be mentioned that the three were officially identified as Khangrah Pamleiyo, 27 and Kangrah Rawung, 31 both son of Shairei of Sihai Khullen and Khangrah Lyton, 27 son of K Yarpam of Sihai Khullen.
A violent clash between Sihai Khullen and Lunghar villagers over payment of tax of a disputed picnic spot at Phangrei Peak (Zero point) led to the death of three Sihai villagers while leaving another seriously injured at Ukhrul June 30.
The condolence meeting was attended by around two thousand villagers, source informed.
The Sihai villagers resolved during the meeting that the three will be buried at the Phangrei Peak.
Meanwhile, even as the Sihai villagers were preparing for the burial of the three, Lunghar villagers started their own preparation to meet with full resistance every effort of the Sihai villagers to bury the three at the peak.
Fearing another bloodbath between the two warring villages, a team of the Jeassami PS led by its SDPO Lomason went to Lunghar village and calmed the Lunghar villagers with the assurance that the authorities would not allow the Sihai villagers from burying the bodies at the peak.
It is also learnt that both the Ukhrul DC and SP also denied permission to the Sihai villagers to bury the three dead at Sihai peak citing law and order situation.
