14 including 5 women hurt in land dispute
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 29 2009: At least 14 persons including five women were hurt in a clash over a land dispute between villagers of Kangchup Chiru village and Polen village under Sapermeina police station today evening.

All the injured are from Kangchup Chiru village.

The incident occurred when some women folk of Kanchup Chiru village were collecting firewood from a hillock but were told to return by the people of Polen village as the hillock belongs to them.

The injured villagers at RIMS after they were assaulted over a land dispute

Soon thereafter the Polen villagers who were armed with lathis and knives started attacking the womenfolk.

As news of the attack reached the people of Kangchup Chiru village, the men folk also rushed to hillock and a fierce clash ensued.

Timely intervention by Sapermeina police averted further clashes and the situation was brought under control.

To bring the situation under control, the police had to open several blank fire.

The hillock where the incident took place is located just next to the Government Reserved Forest.

Earlier too there have been many disputes over the said hillock.

Speaking to reporters at RIMS, where in the injured were brought, the chief of Kangchup Chiru village, Akuthang Chiru said that Polen village was set up by Kuki villagers who were displaced during the Naga-Kuki clash in the 90s.The hillock has been the property of Kangchup Chiru since ages, asserted the village chief.

The villagers of Polen village have also been gathering firewood from the hillock, said the Chiru village chief and added that at most time, it is the people of Kangchup Chiru who have been collecting firewood from there.

"Yesterday too, the people of Polen village assaulted a number of villagers from Kangchup Chiru village when they had gone to collect firewood from the hillock," the chief recalled.

The five injured women have identified as TR Hoikim (35) daughter of TR Droiwan, NR Neisomhoi (25) daughter of L Diroirang, TS Soknei (55) wife of TS Sonkha, MS Ngamring (50) wife of MS Someng, THD Shara (18) daughter of THD Soken and TS Premila (20) daughter of TS Rangjinam.