Attack on Tangkhul community at Nagaland
Mob torch over 30 houses at Wungram Colony, Dimapur
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 22: A large number of people belonging to the Sema tribe turned into a mob and set on fire over 30 houses at Wungram Colony, Dimapur today.

Wungram Colony with about 200 houses is inhabited by the Tangkhul community and following the incident all the menfolk are reported to have fled while the women and children have been shifted to the Nagaland Armed Police Training Centre at Chumukedima.

According to a well placed source, a number of NSCN (IM) members, including some of its top ranking cadres are settled at Wungram Colony.

Sources from Dimapur said that tension reigned in the area after some Tangkhul youths suspected to be kiths and kins of NSCN (IM) members thrashed a Sema auto-rickshaw driver severely breaking his teeth.

Raging inferno at Wungram Colony which engulfed over 30 houses, Dimapur testifes the anger of the mob

Enraged by the incident a large number of people from the Sema community gathered near Wungram Colony early morning today and demanded that the culprits be handed over to them.

Even as the people were demanding that the culprits be handed over to them, words started doing the round that the culprits had been taken to Hebron, said sources.

The gathering soon turned into a mob and they started ransacking vehicles, some of them belonging to NSCN (IM) functionaries.

Thereafter the mob started setting the houses on fire.

At the time of filing this report, over 30 houses have been gutted in the arson, said a source from Dimapur police station (East).

During the mayhem, the enraged mob prevented the police, fire brigade and even the media from entering the area.

Three AK 47 rifles were recovered from one of the gutted houses.

Later the Sema community resolved that no Tangkhul will be allowed to return to Wungram Colony and settle there.

Prohibitory order under CrPC 144 was imposed today evening.

Wungram Colony is located about 5 kms from Dimapur towards Kohima.

There is no report of any human casualty.

Newmai News Network adds from Dimapur : The commercial hub of Nagaland, Dimapur is burning literally and socially.

Though it does not amount to a communal clash, nevertheless, a huge mob from a particular Naga community (tribe) burnt down 30 houses and six four wheelers belonging to a separate Naga community (tribe) in Dimapur today.

On hearing the built-up tension at Wungram Colony near Purana Bazar in Dimapur media persons who went there to get a first hand account of the incident saw a furious mob armed with assorted weapons storming the Wungram Colony and burning down houses including concrete buildings.

IRB, Assam Rifles and police personnel were present at the spot but the mob prevented them from doing "their duties".

The mob comprising of more than a thousand strong people of a particular community and carrying different types of weapons barged into Wungram Colony and set on fire the houses.

Four fire brigades rushed to the colony but the mob did not allow them to proceed further.

The fire tenders were forced to return.

However the fire tenders and fire fighters stationed themselves nearby the colony.

Wungram Colony is a village set up by a particular community.

The mob started storming the colony from 6-7 am but the act of setting the houses on fire began at around 11.30 am.

Reports said that all the menfolk of the Wungram Colony have fled while the children and womenfolk have been taken to a safer place by the security personnel.

The mob ransacked the houses before putting them on fire and revovered 3 AK 47 rifles with one shot gun alongwith ammunition.

The recovered weapons were damaged.

Bursting of LPG cylinders and bombs were also heard as the fire engulfed the houses.

The incident was prompted by an alleged case where an auto-rickshaw driver dropped some passengers near Wungram Colony last evening when three boys from the area came out and reportedly asked the auto-driver as to which community/tribe he belonged.

It was alleged that as soon as the driver disclosed his tribe the three boys then told him they were from a particular tribe and started assaulting him.