ANSAM, Senapati DC appeal for calm
Morung Express News
Dimapur | June 23
A clash owing to a land dispute erupted early on Thursday morning around 3:30am between two villages in Senapati District resulting in serious injuries to 4 people, while an unidentified number of persons were reported to have sustained minor injuries.
The villagers of Maram Khunou Village and Khabung Karong Village near the Senapati District Headquarters, exchanged in pelting of stones while gunshots from Single Barrel Breach Loading (SBBL) were also fired resulting in the injuries, sources informed.
According to Senapati Deputy Commissioner, Jacintha Lazarus, the clashes erupted when about a hundred villagers of Khabung Karong tried to dismantle houses from a disputed area where about 70 ‘kacha’ houses had sprung up.
The DC informed that CrPc 144 has been imposed in the area and villagers have been asked to deposit their arms to the Police Station.
The four persons who were seriously injured are being treated in a hospital in Imphal. They are said to be out of danger.
Appealing for calm between the two villages, the Deputy Commissioner maintained, “This cannot continue further.”
The DC informed that a joint meeting between the two villages along with their tribe leaders is scheduled for Friday.
Meanwhile, the All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) has also appealed for calm from the two villages.
Terming the prevailing situation “sensitive”, a press release from the Publicity Wing of the student body appealed to both the villages to “facilitate and provide” much needed space for peaceful and amicable settlement on the basis of traditional and customary practices.
ANSAM placed its “utmost confidence” in the wisdom of the leaders of the two parties and made the humble submission “in hope that the spirit of peaceful reconciliation and resolution of the issue would prevail for the greater interest of the Nagas at large.”
Condemning the manner in which violence found a place in the dispute, ANSAM wished the injured early recovery and return to good health.
ANSAM further offered its humble assistance and services, towards finding a peaceful and amicable settlement.
