Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 02:
Decrying the diktats and threats served on the villagers who normally go to collect firewoods from Yongmalok Hill Range by an armed person who identified himself as a cadre of the proscribed KNA, the enraged villagers of Awang Huidrom and Heikakmapal under Lamlai Police Station today went up to the hill range hunting for armed men and to destroy their hideouts.
The villagers who were armed with whatever weapons they could lay their hands on began the hunt from four directions since early morning and it continued till late afternoon.
Although, they could not find any armed men or sign of their hideouts, the villagers have resolved not tto olerate such intimidations and threats from any quarters in future.
Talking to media-persons, one Lata Devi (30), w/o Sagolsem Binoy, who is said to have encountered the armed man, recalled that on the morning of December 30 last, she along with her mother-in-law Takol (60), son Sanaprem (10) and some other people from the same locality namely Inaobi (35) w/o Achom Boshan, Manjan (12) s/o Ningombam Sova and Sagolsem Jamesbond went to the hill to collect firewood as usual.
While they were returning home, an unidentified armed person who later identified himself as a cadre of the proscribed KNA stopped them on the way.
After telling her mother-in-law and three other boys including her son to go away, the unidentified armed person asked Inaobi to walk away to another side.
Later the unidentified man asked whether she (Lata) knew about killing of one James by UNLF at Pukhao recently.
The unidentified armed man further asked her if she knew any UNLF cadres in her locality.
When Lata replied in the negative, the unidentified armed man threatened that she should speak the truth or else her modesty would be violated, Lata said, adding that she was led off after she pleaded to spare from such ignominy.
Inaobi also told mediapersons that the unidentified armed person used abusive words on her and insisted she should go to their camp and sort out the matter with their seniors.
It was only when she pleaded and fell into his feet that the unidentified armed person led her go, she said.
One of the villagers disclosed that the threat and intimidation given to the six persons on December 30 by the armed person who appears to be neat and clean and looks like Meetei was not the first instance.
The same person had also threatened some villagers who had gone to collect firewoods in the hill some two months back, the villager informed.
Condemning the action of the unidentified armed person, vice president of Huidrom Youth Development Club H Mutomba, who was also present at the occasion appealed to all concerned to ensure such incident of threat and intimidation do not occur and allow the poor villagers to live in peace.
Otherwise, we will boycott all the armed outfits, he warned.
Although the panic stricken villagers have reportedly stopped going to the hills to collect firewoods for the past few days, the matter had not been brought to the notice of the police.