Kangpokpi CSOs condemn Haraothel incident, blames Govt

From Our Correspondent

KANGPOKPI | Dec 17

Blaming the government for the incident that occurred yesterday at Haraothel, civil society organization of Kangpokpi District vehemently condemned the incident terming it as ‘violence out of issue-politicizing politicians’.

Speaking to media persons on behalf of the CSOs Kangpokpi, Thangminlen Kipgen, President, KSO Sadar Hills said that it is doubtful if this seasonal violence against the people of Haraothel is a mere coincidence as it has now become a regular affair during the onset of Christmas.

He continued that the state Government will have none but themselves to blame for any unfortunate incident as they have been continually updated and made aware and appealed to come up with a peaceful and an amicable solution for the past many months and years.

While acknowledging and appreciating the role played by DC Kangpokpi and SP Kangpokpi, Kipgen further said that the final solution rests in the hands of the present State Government and it would be wrong to blame any side of the villages for any untoward incident as they are mere puppets played in the hands of the issue-politicizing politicians.

Recalling the violence incident yesterday, KSO Sadar Hills president said that upon hearing of the ongoing incident, Kuki Inpi Kangpokpi District and KSO Sadar Hills immediately rushed to the spot discovered the facts of the incident.

He said that at around 11 am yesterday, about 5 locals of Senjam Chirang and Senjam Khunou under intoxication were seen setting the wooden bridge of Haraothel on fire and they had a good supply of oil and carried machetes and sticks.

He continued that upon seeing the burning bridge the villagers of Haraothel mostly women confronted the culprits and one lady was seriously injured after being attacked.

The situation turned ugly and the police personnel of both Kangpokpi District and Imphal West chased away the villagers of S. Chirang and S. Khunou from the site (Haraothel/Tangnaum village), he narrated while adding that gunshots were heard from the side of the two villages in the presence of police personnel only.

He also said that the injured persons were then escorted by SP Kangpokpi to RIMS for medical treatment and MLC report were taken in the presence of KSO Imphal members.

“The police personnel although succeeding in controlling the conflict, were unfortunately unable to nab any culprit involved in inciting the violence by putting up banners or by setting the bridge on fire even after witnesses were able to clearly identify those involved”, asserted KSO supremo.

He further said that it is unclear if the village of Haraothel will be secure or not as it is doubtful that the district administration of Imphal West will be able to keep its violence inciting individuals on check.

KSO Sadar Hills also condemned the news report of some electronics and print media for their alleged indistinctiveness thereby presenting the story mostly out of its context.

He said that some media house has made no attempt to present the actual cause of the conflict alleged that it was actually the premeditated plan of the neighboring villagers to set the bridge on fire and cut off the only lifeline of Haraothel village while adding that even the display of large banners and placards put up by the two villages, on the hills of Haraothel claiming it to be their ancestral land was ignored by some media.

He also clarified that the news report of dismissing the challenge petition of the Government order in connection with the allotment of land to Directorate of Youths Affairs and Sports for NSU as the person filing the petition unable to produce evidence is baseless.