By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jun 13: Continued violence between two armed Kuki groups in Saikul area has had its first civilian casualty in the death of a villager today even as panic stricken villagers have started fleeing from the hostile environment.
The victim identified as Paokhogin Lhungdim of Molkon Bazar was reportedly struck dead by strayed bullets.
A jawan of 2nd IRB (Rifleman no. 1299640), Paokhogin was reportedly staying at his village after a bout of sickness.
According to information received by the press, consequent to exchange of heavy firing which took place between the armed cadres of two Kuki outfits at Molkon area, 2.5 kms north of Saikul Police Station in Senapati district today, panic stricken villagers of Molkon area have fled and taken shelter at the Saikul Bazar Church or with their relatives.
Exchange of firing broke out early morning and continued till 11 am. Following the incident, hundreds of villagers from Molkon area like Molkon Bazar, Molkon, Zenglen, C Isan, Nakphai, Vaichon, Pangjang and Tingkouphai, etc fled to safer places. Around 2000 people are settling in Molkon area.
Sound of gun firing were also reportedly heard yesterday afternoon.
Last Monday, three UGs were killed in the clash. Since then villagers have started fleeing from the area.
SP of the district said that although no official report on the clash has been received, tension has been running high between the two Kuki outfits.
DC of Senapati district said that no definite information on villagers fleeing from Saikul area has been received so far. Nonetheless, the SDO has been asked to submit a report in this connection.
Though no police personnel were seen going to the site of the clash, a team of Assam Rifles has reportedly left for the area today. Whether the AR team has reached the site or not could not be confirmed till the time of filing this report.
One social worker Haopu Lupheng, who is looking after the needs of the displaced villagers, lamented over the failure of the State Police Department and the district administration to despatch police personnel or the SDO to monitor the situation of lawlessness prevailing in the area.
Meanwhile, a joint meeting of KSO General Headquarters, KUMHUR and KWU held today has strongly condemned the standoff between Kuki armed outfits in Saikul area which has inflicted civilian casualties and untold hardships to the poor villagers of the area.
Informing this in a statement, information and publicity secretary of KSO Paotinthang said Kuki people are very much alarmed over this unfortunate development of thoughtless action on the part of the armed groups who call themselves revolutionaries fighting for the cause of the people. These fratricidal killings must stop before it goes out of hand.
At the same time, the joint meeting felt that the increasing number of refugees and death toll could have been avoided if the Government had acted on time and demanded the Government to take necessary actions and measures to disperse the armed groups without any delay before more civilian dead bodies are recovered.
The Government must also do the needful to restore peace and calm so that the displaced villagers could go back to their homes to lead normal life, the statement added.
Source: http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/News_pages/Local_page-01.htm
IMPHAL, Jun 13: Continued violence between two armed Kuki groups in Saikul area has had its first civilian casualty in the death of a villager today even as panic stricken villagers have started fleeing from the hostile environment.
The victim identified as Paokhogin Lhungdim of Molkon Bazar was reportedly struck dead by strayed bullets.
A jawan of 2nd IRB (Rifleman no. 1299640), Paokhogin was reportedly staying at his village after a bout of sickness.
According to information received by the press, consequent to exchange of heavy firing which took place between the armed cadres of two Kuki outfits at Molkon area, 2.5 kms north of Saikul Police Station in Senapati district today, panic stricken villagers of Molkon area have fled and taken shelter at the Saikul Bazar Church or with their relatives.
Exchange of firing broke out early morning and continued till 11 am. Following the incident, hundreds of villagers from Molkon area like Molkon Bazar, Molkon, Zenglen, C Isan, Nakphai, Vaichon, Pangjang and Tingkouphai, etc fled to safer places. Around 2000 people are settling in Molkon area.
Sound of gun firing were also reportedly heard yesterday afternoon.
Last Monday, three UGs were killed in the clash. Since then villagers have started fleeing from the area.
SP of the district said that although no official report on the clash has been received, tension has been running high between the two Kuki outfits.
DC of Senapati district said that no definite information on villagers fleeing from Saikul area has been received so far. Nonetheless, the SDO has been asked to submit a report in this connection.
Though no police personnel were seen going to the site of the clash, a team of Assam Rifles has reportedly left for the area today. Whether the AR team has reached the site or not could not be confirmed till the time of filing this report.
One social worker Haopu Lupheng, who is looking after the needs of the displaced villagers, lamented over the failure of the State Police Department and the district administration to despatch police personnel or the SDO to monitor the situation of lawlessness prevailing in the area.
Meanwhile, a joint meeting of KSO General Headquarters, KUMHUR and KWU held today has strongly condemned the standoff between Kuki armed outfits in Saikul area which has inflicted civilian casualties and untold hardships to the poor villagers of the area.
Informing this in a statement, information and publicity secretary of KSO Paotinthang said Kuki people are very much alarmed over this unfortunate development of thoughtless action on the part of the armed groups who call themselves revolutionaries fighting for the cause of the people. These fratricidal killings must stop before it goes out of hand.
At the same time, the joint meeting felt that the increasing number of refugees and death toll could have been avoided if the Government had acted on time and demanded the Government to take necessary actions and measures to disperse the armed groups without any delay before more civilian dead bodies are recovered.
The Government must also do the needful to restore peace and calm so that the displaced villagers could go back to their homes to lead normal life, the statement added.
Source: http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/News_pages/Local_page-01.htm
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