Imphal, February 02: Tension gripped Khangshim village in Chandel district when a large number of attackers, suspected to be from the Maring tribe, attacked the village and destroyed 25 houses belonging to the Khoibu tribe last night.

The attackers were armed with lethal weapons.

According to reports received from the spot, about 80 men, suspected to be Maring tribesmen and armed to the teeth with swords, axes and other lethal weapons came to the village in a Shaktiman last night at about 11.30.The attackers came from the direction of Laijing Minou side, which is located near Khangshim village.

The attackers first targeted the house of the village chief, Khaling Koshang (65) and thoroughly ransacked the house.

One computer set, TV, scooter and other goods were destroyed beyond redemption.

Thereafter the attackers let loose a reign of terror and destroyed a number of houses in the village.

Tables, chairs, gas stoves, utensils, TVs, refrigerators, vehicles and cycles, were destroyed.

Even as the attackers started breaking down the doors and windows of the villagers' houses, the petrified villagers managed to escape under cover of darkness and through the backdoors.

Many others took refuge under their beds.

The fleeing villagers reported the attack to the Assam Rifles post at Kakching Lamkhai, but the security personnel did not come to the village.

The attackers continued the mayhem till 1.30 am.

They also threatened the Khoibu villagers to leave or face dire consequences.

Threatening warning were also written on the walls of the houses in English.

A mother and her son were also brutally beaten up.

They have been named as K Nelson (38) and his mother K Toren (70).Nelson has been moved to Imphal.

Tengnoupal AC MLA DK Korungthang visited the ravaged village today morning.

Police teams led by the SP of Thoubal, SDPO Kakching, SDPO Sugnu, OC Kakching and OC CID Pallel post visited the village today to take stock of the situation.

Speaking to the media, the Khoibu tribesmen said that the Marings have been forcing them to stay within the Maring tribe.

In 2003 too a number of Khoibu people were attacked with knives by the Maring people over this issue, they said.

Fearing further attacks, the Khoibu people urged the Government to provide them adequate security cover.

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