Imphal, November 21: Contending that landmines planted by the UNLF in Khengjoi block areas of Chandel district have claimed the lives of 26 civilians so far, Chandel based Kuki Chiefs' Association and Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO) have jointly appealed to the State Government for immediate action to sanitise Khengjoi area to ensure a secured life for the villagers.

While landmine blasts and shot dead incidents involving the UNLF accounted for 21 of the casualties the bodies claimed the UKLF hand in abduction, torture and slaying of one person.

In a joint memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister, the two organisations presented a detailed list of landmine blast victims and those slain by militants in the last five years with the most recent incident informed to have taken place on November 16 in which one Thongkhomang Touthang (57) was killed while his son identified as Paoboi Touthang sustained injuries.

the fact that even an Evangelist (Thongkhomang) got killed has shocked the entire tribal people and Christian community, the representation expressed.

Lamenting that previous intimation of such incidents had failed to evoke a positive response from the Govt, the joint memorandum opined that such negligence on the part of the State authorities have led the affected villagers to believe they are being treated unfairly.

With landmines still existing in Khengjoi block areas waiting to snuff out lives of more innocent people, the chiefs and students pointed out that survival of villagers depending on forest products for livelihood have come under constant threat.

It is questionable whether the Govt has given away the land to UG elements to exercise their clout on the tribal people under a secret pact, said the memo while proposing that State Govt peruse the matter and initiate appropriate measures to cure the suffering of the people.

In addition to demanding sanitising Khengjoi block from landmines, the bodies also suggested deployment of security force personnel in adequate strength, re-opening Army post at sehlon and Phaisanjang villages and to establish new battalion headquarters at New Samtal and Khengjoi and to create conducive atmosphere in the region for taking up developmental works.

Failure to honour the sincere appeal would constrain the organisations to take up its own measures which may be detrimental to interest of the Govt, it cautioned.

On the otherhand, the KSO also submitted a separate memo demanding compensation of two villagers injured in a landmine blast which occurred on October 30 in between Maokot and Semol villages.

the injured have been identified as mrs Phallam Khongsai (27) w/o Thongam Khongsai of semol village and Miss Tilneilhing Haokip (18) s/o of jamlet Haokip also from the same village.

While Phallam's legs require surgical amputation caused by the blast, Tilneilhing sustained splinter wounds on the hand, the KSO memo addressed to the CM said and urged for financial assistance to both the victims.

The memorandum was datelined November 2.

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