DIMAPUR, JANUARY 27 (MExN): Rendering its clarification to the January 19 incident at Shishimi village, the Sumi community of the village alleged that the Sangtams had attempted to massacre Sumis in a preplanned manner as clearly indicated and in the process of attacking Sumis by the Sangtam mob, they themselves had beaten and thrashed to death Late, Late Seopi Sangtam and injured several others, perhaps on mistaken identity. Giving details of the incident which took place in Shishimi village, the press release stated that the Sumi and Sangtam at Shishimi vllage under Kiphire district were living together as one socially, politically, religiously etc. since the last 60 to 70 years under one administration. Subsequently many intermarriages between the two communities has taken place from forefather’s time till date, however on January 11, 2007, the Sangtam students’ disassociated from the Sumi students’ Union and attended USSC annual conference at Sangphor village and on December 29, 2007, established themselves as Singsi Local Students’ Union. It further stated that on January 1, 2008, one Tsaseo Sangtam, GB and Shikuto Sangtam, GB, made a declaration that henceforth Sumis and Sangtams will live as Singsi and Shishimi as two separate tribes, which created more confusion in the minds of the SUmis. Therefore, the press release issued by the chairman of Sumi community, Khekato V. Aye, stated that the Sumis had convened a joint meeting on January 17 to amicably resolve the issue if there was any. But unfortunately, it said that only three GBs from the Sangtam side attended the meeting who left the meeting without even trying to resolve the issue. Subsequently as the Sangtam declaration, the Sumi said that the decided to have a separate fellowship.
The clarification continued that on January 18, one Shitoyi Sangtam, GB of Shishimi (Singsi) had informed one Tungseli, who was at Kiphire over the phone that clashes had taken place between the Sumis and Sangtams at the village although there were no such incidents. On the same day, they said that ‘they’ had removed all the firewood and stones (boulders) in the around the Church compound and shifted it elsewhere. It further alleged that on the 19th, when the Sumis had been about to begin their evening fellowship (service) in the church as decided earlier, the Sangtams, mostly comprised of matured and active males and females joined them and started accusing and intimidating the SUmis. The release stated that sensing unwanted situation, the Sumis had tried to keep calm and appealed to them not to defile the sanctity of the Church but despite their appeal, the late Seopi Sangtam started beating one Toshiyi Sumi and Mrs, Ghozheli Sangtam and Mrs, Niqheli Sangtam took out pieces of CGI pipes which they had hidden in their shawls and started “banging Toshiyi and Vikato. It added that Mrs Toyili, wife of Tsaseo started throwing chilly powder on the faces of Mrs. Alhoshe, Khekato and Abel and stated that all these incidents had taken place inside the church. Sensing moredanger, the SUmi community said that they started to flee for their lives by jumping over the windows by to their surprise, the Sangtams, mostly youth, armed with chill ypowder, CGI pipe pieces, knives, airgun barrel, clubs with nails fixed to it, 3X4 tiber, 12. bore guns etc. surrounded them and started beating the Sumis.
It release alleged that while fleeing for their lives, GB & DB Tsaseo knocked down one Mrs, Lotoli with a piece of CGI pipe and as Samuel Sumi tried to pacify, he was knocked down by Alipa and Aheyi Sangtam with a club fixed with nails and then followed banging and knocking of the Sumis by the Sangtam women folks with the aforementioned objects supplied by Khetoli; wife of Obed Sangtam, a pastor. It also alleged that Obed had tried to fire at the Sumi with Tsaseo’s gun but Ghokhuzhe managed to snach the gun and in the meantime, one Ahoto Sangtam stabbed Abel Sumi, VG 2 i/c and acting pastor of Shishimi repeatedly over his head, yet he did not retaliate.
The Sumi community chairman stated that the Sangtams armed with said objects attempted to massacre Sumis in a preplanned manner as clearly indicated and in the process of attacking Sumis by the Sangtam mob, they themselves had beaten and thrashed to death Late, Late Seopi Sangtam and injured several others, perhaps on mistaken identity, as all the Sumis were fleeing for their lives. The statement added that even as Samuel, who was badly injured on his head, was rushing to Siti Town to inform village guards of the incident, met with Sepichem Sangtam, the son Tsaseo GB, b ut the latter did no harm to the Sumi rather gave him a lift and dropped him off safely at Siti town in his vehicle.
