A group of bikers who were reportedly creating nuisance at Shangkai village, Ukhrul District on Wednesday were counselled and made to leave for Imphal.
According to villagers “the group of bike riders had stopped briefly at a shop at Shangkai village and were making loud noises. They were speaking on their mobile phone and bragging about their halting at a Kuki village. When the villagers asked them to lower their voices and leave, the group of riders confronted the villagers and a heated argument ensued.”
Following the heated argument, the villagers made announcements in their PA system and people started turning up. Seeing the rush of villagers, two bikers tried to escape, and while doing so, one of them hit a villager who had also responded to the call on the loudspeaker. A physical altercation took place.
Later, the village authorities intervened and they were taken to the Litan Police Station. The riders were counseled against repeating such behaviours and were safely allowed to leave.
The village elders requested the travellers to show respect and maintain discipline while crossing their village. “We are not interested in knowing who you are or where you are going but maintain discipline and decency while crossing the village. Had it not been for the CSOs intervention and safeguarding you, it would have been a different story” stated one of the village leaders. He also advised them not to repeat such behaviour anywhere.
Ichel News Network reported that “according to the testimony of Altaf Hussain from Urup, who sustained a leg fracture and is currently receiving treatment at JNIMS, a group of 32 youths riding 16 motorbikes were attacked by a mob in a Kuki village near Ukhrul’s Litan area at around 6:30 pm on their way back home from Ukhrul town.
“Altaf Hussain narrated that the group had organized a bike ride to Mova Cave, Ukhrul, with the aim of establishing a Muslim Riders Club to engage youths in positive activities and distance them from drug use. They left Imphal today at around 9 am, visited Mova Cave, and later stopped in Ukhrul town to have food before returning.
“On their way back, as it was getting late and dark, they stopped at a shop in a village near Litan to wait for some of the bikes that were slowing down so they could continue riding together. While they were there, some elderly villagers approached them and inquired about their identity and purpose of visit. Hussain said they explained that they were all Pangals (Manipuri Muslims) from Imphal, returning after a bike ride.
“A few minutes later, an announcement was reportedly made from the village loudspeaker in the local dialect. Soon after, a mob attacked them with stones and sticks without any warning and reasons. Some of the riders managed to escape, while nine were detained by the villagers and later handed over to Litan Police. Several motorcycles were damaged, and some of the youths sustained injuries.”
The Litan Police Station and Kuki CSOs are yet to come out with their statement while filing this report.
