IMPHAL, May 3: Altogether 36 houses were reduced to ashes after a land ownership dispute between two neighbouring villages, Saijang and Silent Khul. Silent Khul falls in the Saikul constituency and is located about 7 km northeast of Lamlai Police Station. However, Seijang village falls under Lamlai constituency in Imphal East district.
The incident reportedly happened today at around 10.30 am when angry villagers of Saijang stormed Silent Khul and started to call out the villagers from their respective houses and then set about burning down their houses. However, none of the villagers of Silent Khul were beaten up during the incident.
A large number of police personnel led by L Kailun Inspector General law and order Range 1 (IG L&O) and Angam Kamei Superintendent of police Imphal East rushed to the spot and took the situation under control. A team of 16 Assam Riffles personnel also came in as reinforcements.
Speaking to the media person, a woman from Silent Khul claimed that today at around 10 .30 am, a large number of people holding weapons including guns, sword, spears came to the village and stated to dismantle houses and then started to burn them down without giving any reason.
R Hongprang, the Village chief of the Silent Khul said at first the two villagers were settled in the area with peaceful co existence till some years a court case was filed over land ownership. Condemning the burning down of the belongings and houses by the villagers of Saijang village and also appealed to the state government to look up the matter seriously for the peaceful co-existence of the neighboring villages of the area.
Around 150 villagers are reportedly homeless following the incident but there is no report of any human causality till the filing of the news though state police personnel are keeping a watch over the tense situation.
Yamthong Haokip, Local MLA of the Saikul Assembly constituency also rushed to the area after the incident.
Our Kangpokpi Correspondent adds:
The Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills and Kuki Students` Organization Sadar Hills has condemned the attack of Silent village under Sadar Hills and the subsequent burning down of 36 houses by some villagers of Seijang Village today afternoon.
The Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills information and publicity secretary Ngamlen Haokip and KSO-SH inf.& pub.secretary Goupu Hmar while speaking to this correspondent at Kangpokpi said that the attack is very much uncivilized and is highly condemnable by all since it can bring about misunderstandings between the people.
The leaders of the two organizations further appealed to all individuals and particularly to the Seijang villagers to divert their ill intention towards the Silent Tangkhul village in a civilised and peaceful path of co existence.
The two Kuki civil bodies also appeal to the concerned authority and the state government to intervene at the earliest possibility and take up the best suitable measures to prevent further disaster to the villagers of Silent Khul.
They also appealed to the Government for immediate relief of the affected villagers and to employ security forces for the security of the Silent village.
The two organizations also jointly condemned the bomb attack at the residence of IFC Minister Ngamthang Haokip.