Ukhrul, Jan 10: In response to the alleged assault and outraging of the modesty of a Naga woman at K Lungwiram village on January 7, the Leilon Khunou Village Authority has refuted the allegation and set out its ‘facts’.
The Leilon Khunou Village Authority official statement stated, “Apropos the alleged assault of a Liangmai lady by Kuki volunteers on 7th of January 2025 (Tuesday), it is hereby clarified to the public that no such assault or mishandling took place at the site and time mentioned in contrast to the allegations made by the said lady”.
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Giving its version of the alleged incident as the ‘facts’, the village authority stated that ‘on seeing the leveling work done on the ground with JCB, some village elders including some women approached her and cordially asked her to stop the work as it was not appropriate to take up such activities during this time due to the prevailing unrest in the state’. To avoid further misunderstanding and complications, each party agreed not to take any video clips of the incident at the site.
The village authority further stated that a team from Leimakhong Police Station led by the OC timely reached the spot and prevented all possible misunderstandings between the two parties. It also stated that the Sub-Divisional Officer of Kangchup-Geljang visited the site on the same day, met both parties, and verbally requested not to take up any further issues as he would call for a hearing within a few days. Accordingly, the hearing at the Office of Deputy Commissioner, Kangpokpi is scheduled for 10th January 2025 (Friday), it said.
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Stressing further, the village authority stated that it was unfortunate that the said lady, later in the evening, made a video clip alleging physical assault which was ‘baseless’. It then alleged that such unfounded allegations had flared up emotions from their Eastern Liangmai Women Union to block the road at Makhan village causing immense miseries to the commuters including the sick, children, and the elderly in hundreds who were on the way to Kangpokpi or Churachandpur leaving them stranded in Leimakhong area and K. Lhangnom side.
The Chief of the Leilon Khunou village Haopu Vaiphei also appealed to the general public not to be misled by such ‘baseless claims’.
It may be mentioned that a Naga lady had on January 7, through a video, accused a group of Kuki individuals of harassment and assault and the same has been widely circulated. The lady had alleged that the group besides assaulting her and harassing the villagers, had barred her from working in her plot in Lungwiram Naga village. A video clip purportedly of the incident had also gone viral.
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Reacting to the alleged incident, Naga civil societies of the area condemned it, and the Naga villagers imposed an indefinite shutdown in the Makhan area. The K. Lungwiram village also issued a 15-day eviction notice to the Leilon village, citing the expiry of the lease agreement.