Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, October 29 2009:
On the alleged charge of not meeting their demand of Rs 20,000, cadres of Kuki National Army (KNA) maintaining cease fire with the security force under Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement have beaten up a village chief and secretary.
Apart from assaulting the chief of the Thangal Surung village K Lengkham (60) and village authority secretary, Silas Anth (55), they also took away domestic fowls before leaving the village of the assault.
The two injure persons are hospitalizing at JN Hospital, Porompat.
Injured village chief Lengkham that three who identified themselves to be cadres of KNA yesterday visited the village yesterday morning and demanded Rs 20,000 which the village collected from selling woods.
He refused to pay out the money stating that it was not his property but for the villagers stating that he could not give it out without the permission of the villagers.
He also insisted them to lessen the amount as it was huge for them.
He further requested them to give sometime to discuss the matter with the villagers.
He also welcomed them to have meal together with pork but the three cadres left the village stating they will come again next day.
Miscreants re-visited the village again on the night of the same day at about 8.30 pm and entered direct to chief's house.
Without saying anything, they dragged him out from the house upto the house of the village secretary.
They were allowed to sit a bench near the village community hall and with alleged charge of neglecting in fulfilling the demand of the party, they were beaten up severely.
Alarmed by their hue and cry, villagers rushed to the spot.
On seeing the villagers rushing towards the spot, cadres left the place before the villagers arrived.
Villagers evacuated their chief and secretary on a passenger bus hired by them at late night about 2 am.
In the assault incident, both hand of the village authority secretary suffered bone fracture.
The village chief has bruise marks at his button back and legs.
Villagers strongly condemning the act of the militants said that it was beastly act.
They also demanded appropriate action all authorities concerns.