Training Phawa who was accused of involvement in the axe attack on the headman and secretary of Tuber Kmai Shnong in East Jaintia Hills today said the allegations against him were wrong and not based on facts.
In a media statement, Phawa said that two of his relatives were passing by the house of Tuber Kmai Shnong headman Miki Lyngdoh and shortly after some persons standing on the wayside started to use foul language.
“My relatives requested them not to use foul language but the persons who uttered such language pounced on my two relatives and assaulted them. My relatives telephoned me and I rushed to the spot. When I reached there, a crowd had gathered to attack my relatives. The headman Miki Lyngdoh, the secretary Denis Lyngdoh and VDP members who were present there did not intervene to stop the attack on my relatives. Finally, I jumped in and tried to pacify the crowd but I was also assaulted by them. In fear I used whatever tool I have to protect myself and my relatives but the crowd was relentless. Later, we managed to flee from the spot,” Phawa said.
“My intention was only to protect myself and my relatives and not as alleged or as reported in the media. It was me who asked for shifting of the injured to the hospital since I did not want to harm anybody but only to stop the violence. As a resident of my village, I respect the headman and village leaders and I did not make any allegations or complaints against them. It was they who made allegations against me,” Phawa added.
Meanwhile, the Dorbar Shnong Tuber Kmai Shnong today organised a public rally to protest the attack on the village headman and secretary.
The rally which began at 8 am was participated by all local villagers.
Carrying black banners and placards, the villagers condemned the attack and demanded immediate arrest of Phawa who they alleged was involved in the attack.
It may be mentioned that Tuber Kmai Shnong headman Miki Lyngdoh and secretary Denis Lyngdoh were hit by an axe by a man identified as Training Phawa on January 3 at around 11:30 pm.
According to an FIR lodged by the headman’s brother Chelang Lyngdoh at Lad Rymbai Police Outpost, his brother and the secretary of the village went to a place known as Kamar Khlot within Tuber Kmai Shnong village to try to maintain peace.
It was alleged that Training Phawa who arrived at the spot in a Hyundai Creta car having registration number ML-10-C-5037 attacked the headman and secretary with a sharp axe.
While Miki Lyngdoh suffered cut injuries in the hands, Denis Lyngdoh received injuries in the head.
They victims were immediately rushed to Ïalong Civil Hospital near Jowai and later shifted to Super Care Hospital, Shillong for medical treatment.
