Abducted man found shot dead, violence, fear grips Khamenlok
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 25: Even as villagers of Khamenlok and surrounding areas under Saikul police station are fleeing from their homesteads because of unaffordable demands by UG groups for money and food items, one villager who was reportedly abducted from his home was shot dead at Chulouphai last night.

The deceased is identified as Haokholal Touthang alias Lalboi (46) of H Khopibung village under Saikul PS.

He had four sons and a daughter from his first wife.

After the death of his first wife, Haokholal married one Hechin (24) and was living together.

As his younger brother had expired earlier, Haokholal was looking after his three children even though he had no issue with his second wife.

Villagers of Khamenlok leaving their homesteads on a truck to escape the harassments from underground cadres

Hechin informed that her husband was abducted by some armed individuals clad in camouflage uniform from their home at about 8.30 pm yesterday.

She followed the armed persons till Chulouphai but there the identified persons forced her to turn back home, Hechin disclosed.

Just as she reached home, Hechin heard gun shots at about 9 pm.

The body of Haokholal was discovered today morning by people who came out to wait for the bus to Imphal.

The skull upward from forehead was found totally smashed.

On reaching the spot, a team of reporters found a group of women guarding the corpse of Haokholal.

Talking with the reporters, the local villagers conveyed their fear and reluctance to narrate the hardships being encountered by civilians of 8 adjoining villages at the hands of different armed groups.

They were apprehensive that they will get into serious trouble if they dare to expose the facts and true accounts of the prevailing circumstances there to the media.

On arriving at the village, the armed persons believed to be KRA cadres, confiscated all mobile phones from the villagers to avoid communication with others.

The KRA cadres reportedly told the villagers that their mobile phones will be returned only when they leave the village.

However, the mobile phones have not been returned till date, disclosed the villagers.

In addition to rice and pig of 5 wai, the UG groups have been demanding Rs 20,000 to Rs 1 lakh from each village.

A large number of villagers including women and children who cannot fulfil these demands have left their homesteads and taken refuge in Meitei villages of Uyumpok, Lamboikhun, Terapur and Uyumpok Mamang Leikai etc.

Some women and children were seen going back to their villages in a Shaktiman truck hoping that the situation might have improved today but deep fear and anxiety could be seen on their faces.

However, a large number of men, women and children are still taking shelter in Meitei villages.

Meanwhile, the Aigijang Village Authority has extended gratitude for providing the displaced shelter at Uyumpok Mamang leikai.

The Village Authority noted that the fraternal bond between the hill people and valley people will be fastened by such noble act of providing food and shelter at this moment of hardships and turmoil.

It also made a fervent appeal to all armed groups not to terrorise the humble villagers who are surviving by cultivating a few acres of land.

It is reported that Saikul police have moved into retrieve the corpse of Haokholal.