IMPHAL, April 18: The boundary land dispute between villagers of Jessami in Ukhrul district of Manipur and Mellory village in neighbouring state Nagaland has continued with Jessami villagers claiming that Melluri village in Phek district of Nagaland have abducted six villagers including a VDF driver on April 18.
According to a source, around 400 Mellory villagers armed with 303 rifles and sticks came into the Manipur side on April 18 at round 10:30am and took the six farmers along with them to their side of the boundary.
Further according to the source, the six villagers have been identified as W Misewelo, W Enilhi, W Kekhwelhi, W Zakitou, W Mupezo and W Nizovi a VDF driver.
Following the intrusion from the Mellory villagers, the local MLA met with the Manipur Chief Secretary and briefed him on the issue at hand. The MLA further asked him to take up the issue with his Nagaland counterpart.
The Chief Secretary further urged his Nagaland counterpart to look into the issue and deal with the issue at the earliest. The Nagaland Chief Secretary on his part has assured to look into the issue and materialize the villagers’ release, added the source.
Meanwhile, Jessami villagers further appealed to the state government to look into the plights of the border village.
They have charged that there have been several intrusions from the Nagaland side into the state, including the reported Nagaland Police outpost and set up a post for its armed police personnel and constructed a rest house and fishermen`s rest centre.
Further questioning why the IRB personnel posted in the area have been sent back from the area, the the villagers have further appealed the state government to not take the issue lightly.