Chandel, October 19: The Chandel Naga Peoples' Organisation has strongly condemned the severe assault of two innocent civilians by a mob on October 18 at about 7.20 pm at Bamon Pallel Maning Leikai.

The two victims are identified as WS Meenel and SR Warngring.

Speaking to this correspondent the two said that they were returning home from Imphal in the night of October 18 when they were stopped by meira paibis at Pallel to proceed soon as there was trouble in the area.

After going for about 20 metres, a group of 4/5 men came out on the road and stopped them they said and even though they made it clear that they were innocent civilians, the mob clanged on a nearby electric post and in no time at all a large number of people came out and started thrashing them.

WS Meenel said that one of the attackers tried to hack him on the head with a machete but he managed to block it with his hands.

The motor cycle on which they were traveling was burnt and the license of an SBBL gun was seized, they informed.

Later a police team and IRB personnel came to the scene and managed to stop the mob.

The two said they were then blind folded with their hands tied and taken to a local club at Pallel Mayai Leikai.

Even at the club they were blind folded and tied while being questioned by the police.

After their innocence was confirmed they were taken to Kakching PHSC by the police for first aid and the blind fold was removed only then, said the two victims.

After first aid they were taken to RIMS yesterday night itself and were discharged today.

The two suffered injuries on the heads, hands and faces.

Meenel said the assault was a clear case of a life attempt as he was hacked with a machete.

Family members and the two victims also expressed deep displeasure over the conduct of the police.

They said the police should also have taken up some action against the people who assaulted them.

Meanwhile the Chandel Naga Peoples' Organisation conducted a meeting today at Chandel district hqs to discuss the incident and strongly condemned the assault of two innocent civilians.

After minute discussions the meeting adopted a number of resolutions.

The resolutions said that the attack was pre-planned to create communal tension, the problem should be solved according to Naga customary laws, the culprits should be arrested and booked, to submit a memorandum to the CM, no solution should be arrived at by any individual or organisation except the JAC Chandel on Behalf of the Victims, compensation of Rs 5 lakhs each be paid to the victims, the burnt motor cycle be compensated and to return the licence of the SBBL gun.

If the demands are not met within October 24 then CNPO along with UNC, ANSAM, NWUM and NPMHR will launch a series of agitation and the people of Pallel should be held responsible for any untoward incident.

Anal Students� Union has also strongly condemned the brutal attack on two innocent civilians and urged the people of Pallel area to restain from committing such acts in future to avoid flaring up communal tension between the two communities who have been living as good neighbours for many years.

Comment