Ukhrul (Manipur) [India], February 11 (HBTV): Following a recent incident of violence in Litan village of Manipur’s Ukhrul district, where miscreants set houses on fire, Vice President of Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO) Ukhrul, Mercy Khongsai, has said the episode has been wrongly portrayed as a communal clash.
Speaking to ANI on Tuesday, Khongsai said the violence began as a minor scuffle involving three or four intoxicated individuals but was later misrepresented as a conflict between two communities. She maintained that the incident was not communal in nature and alleged that certain anti-social elements were attempting to give it a divisive narrative.
‘What started as a small scuffle between three or four drunk men has been represented as a clash between two communities, which is very wrong. It is not a communal thing. However, some anti-social elements, or some people with that kind of mindset, are trying to present it as a clash between two communities. Yesterday, we also had a meeting to resolve the problem with the TNL, with the Deputy CM as well,’ Khongsai said.
She further alleged that despite the meeting, tensions escalated when some individuals from the Tangkhul side allegedly set fire to three or four houses. According to her, the discussions failed to reach any resolution.
‘However, we could not come to any terms. And it is very disheartening to see right after the meeting, some of the Tangkhul people have started burning three, four houses. One small fight between a few drunk people has turned things very ugly, and a lot of people have misinterpreted it as a communal issue between two communities,’ she added.
Meanwhile, Hegin Baite, an eyewitness to the incident, said there was a small quarrel and that those involved were intoxicated. He described it as a minor matter that later escalated after miscreants allegedly attacked civilians with stones.
‘There was a small quarrel, and the quarrelers were drunk. We thought it was a small matter and peace would prevail. But they escalated the matter and attacked us with stones. They even burnt our house down. We had to cross the river with our family at night. We did not start this,’ he told ANI.
Miscreants reportedly set fire to several houses overnight in villages around Litan in Ukhrul district on Monday, according to officials.
Following the incident, the Manipur government on Tuesday ordered a five-day suspension of internet and mobile data services in Ukhrul district after houses were set ablaze a day earlier.
Earlier, on January 6, a protest against the swearing-in of Manipur’s new Deputy Chief Ministers, Nemcha Kipgen and Losii Dikho, turned violent as security forces clashed with a mob in Churachandpur district. The unrest reportedly began at around 6 pm in the Tuibong Main Market area, where hundreds of protesters attempted to push security personnel back to their barracks.
(ANI)