Haikot Villagers attack officials during survey

Last Updated on February 17, 2023 by SPN Editor

Land demarcation for NH 102A road expansion turned ugly at Haikot village under Machi Police Station in Tengnoupal district when officials of the Revenue Department and the Public Works Department who executed the work there escaped death when irate Kuki villagers attacked them in protest against the demarcation.

Haikot village is located near Khoibu village along Tengnoupal – Shangshak road.

Haikot villagers in Machi sub-division of Tengnoupal district clashed with police over a land survey for the expansion of NH-102A. A woman protester was injured on her forehead when the police resorted to firing Tear gas to disperse the agitating villagers. The injured woman is identified as Vahshi (37), wife of Lhunkholet of Haikot village.

Haikot villagers had been opposing carrying out land demarcation work for the expansion of NH-102A at the village until and unless the affected villagers and government reach an amicable solution.

The incident occurred around 3:12 pm on September 12 when several officials from Revenue Department and PWD along with a police team tried to conduct land demarcation with regard to the expansion of NH-102A connecting Shangshak and Tengnoupal.

According to reports, the Haikot villagers oppose the land demarcation work when the officials conducted a land survey which resulted in a confrontation between police and villagers. Officials of the Revenue Department and PWD along with a police team entered Haikot village for conducting demarcation with regard to the expansion of State highway from Tengnoupal to Shangshak. When the official team started the demarcation work, villagers of Haikot Kuki village including women numbering around 60 protested and managed to thwart the demarcation.

All of a sudden, some villagers started attacking the officials. After the situation worsened, additional forces of police teams including commandos rushed to the spot. As the protesters defied police warnings to retreat, police resorted to firing several rounds of tear gas shells to disperse the mob. Later, the survey was successfully carried out after the police brought the situation under control.

Meanwhile, during the incident, District Magistrate Tengnoupal imposed prohibitory orders under CrPC 144 from Khoibu to Haikot village, prohibiting assembly of five or more persons likely to turn unlawful, carrying of sticks, stones, firearms without a valid license, weapons or objects of any description which can be used as offensive.