IMPHAL, March 23: A Joint body of village heads and elders formed after a conflict between the villagers of Gwaltabi and Manojang at Gwaltabi on March 20, managed a compromise between the two parties in a public meeting of the villagers was held today at Gwaltabi Community hall. The public meeting was organised by Tellou Chana Seijang Gram Panchayat.
Mention may be made that on the evening of March 20 at Gwaltabi village, a conflict between the small community of Meitei villagers of Gwaltabi and Kuki villagers of Monoyang broke out over an argument between few drunken individuals.
In order to strengthen the bondages of the villagers belonging to the two communities and avoid such conflicts in the future the Tellou Chana Seijang Gram Panchayat called the meeting.
The meeting was attended by village chiefs, leaders, Pradhan and other elders and local meira paibis of Manojang, Gwaltabi, Urangpat, Yaingangpokpi, Sabungkhok Seijang, Leimakhong Mapal, Tepland, K Khonong, K Vaipheijang, members from surrounding villages and CSOs.
During the meeting Pradhan L Dinesh said that the incident was regrettable and originated from petty issues. He further called for support from the CSOs and other intellectuals for bringing peace and harmony in the area.
Sales and use of illicit drugs and alcohol should be banned in the area to minimise such conflicts said Urangpat village chief Limkhopao Mate and added that people from different communities have been living in peace since time immemorial in the area.
He said that the dispute might not have aggravated if reported timely to the concern village heads in the first place. Later he wished the last of such incidents have been seen in the area.
Chairman Yaingangpokpi Village committee Saikhom Tomba called for a joint committee formed by villagers of different communities so as to quickly address such unwanted incidents in future. He urged everybody not to resort to mob justice.
Later the meeting resolved to form a peace committee comprising of leaders of various surrounding villages urging all that any unwanted or anti social incident in the future should be first reported to this committee.
In the sidelines OC to Yaingangpokpi Police Station A Tomba Singh expressed that their area of operation is inhabited by a number of different communities, being the juncture of three districts namely Imphal East, Ukhrul and Senapati, and therefore it is a sensitive area.
He further stated that the area is thinly populated hence the area MLA is not too concerned about their plight.
Lamenting the resort to mob justice he said that any kind of anti social activity must be reported to the police station immediately.
The OC further said that Yaingangpokpi PS is not a full-fledged police station and its personnel strength is inadequate. He added that the state Government is considering to make Yaingangpokpi full-fledged police station by inducting more staff in the near future.
The need is for discipline among the residing communities of the area, OC Lamlai PS, W Devkumar also said in the sidelines.
He further said that to minimise such untoward incidents, frequent public meeting is needed among the different communities of the area. He called for cooperation from the society in bringing peace and harmony.