Dimapur, May 23 (MExN): Following last night’s clash over a dispute over land in Medziphema sub-division that left ten villagers with gunshots wounds, the administration today took to task both disputing villages Maolva and Tsuma to a bond this evening. The bond – agreed upon and signed by leaders of both the villages – stipulated that a penalty of Rs one Lakh as fine and one-year imprisonment would be imposed if either of the two ‘sparks any more trouble.’
Ten people were reported injured in a clash over land between villagers of Maolva village and Tsuma village under Medziphema last night. Following the clash which erupted at around 6:30 PM, the Medziphema administration had imposed 144 Cr.PC in the area.
The Additional Deputy Commissioner of Medziphema Hesjang Doungel today informed that a meeting was convened by the administration following the trouble. In attendance were village authorities and leaders of both Maolva and Tsuma. Both the sides signed the bond and agreed to abide by it, sources said.
Listing out the clauses in the bond, ADC Doungel said one Lakh Rupees and a year of imprisonment would be the penalties for any breach of situation by either of the sides over the current issue in question. Doungel said the administration has ordered all gun-owners of both the villages to surrender their guns to the police within five days. If the order is not complied with, within the stipulated time given, either the Assam Rifles or the Police would be forced to confiscate it themselves, the ADC informed.
To the query what sparked off Friday night’s clash, the ADC informed that the ‘spark’ was quite a minor one. It was informed that a person had reportedly cut bamboos belonging to a GB of Maolva village. Understood to have touched issues of land ownership, a quarrel ensued between the two which eventually culminated into the villagers’ skirmish that left several with gunshot wounds in the evening.
It was also informed that an investigating body is already looking into the aspect of dispute over land between the two. The dispute is said to be ‘very old,’ according to ADC Doungel and last night’s cause of the incident was only a spark that set off the entire situation. The Assam Rifles at Medziphema and the police are said to be frequenting the area to keep an eye on the situation. ADC Doungel also said mass-based civil organizations including the Chakroma Public Organization have been asked to visit the area, as a check. In a related matter, of the ten injured in last night’s clash five were confirmed today to have received bullet wounds.
The rest were released after being administered initial medical treatment. The five with the bullets are informed to have been transferred to Dimapur Civil Hospital to have the gun ‘deposits’ removed from their bodies. Fortunately, they are said to be out of danger, sources said.
It may be mentioned here that the Medziphema administration yesterday said the villagers clashed using even single bore barrel guns. Personnel from the 20th Assam Rifles and the police were deployed to contain the situation. No untoward incident has been reported till filing this news report.
