Nongpoh, Aug 14: A quarrel over the sharing of money among drug-taking companions after stealing a mobile phone led to a violent altercation in which a 27-year-old youth jumped into the Umtrew River at Byrnihat to escape being assaulted by his friends.
The incident occurred yesterday morning at around 9:00 a.m. in Byrnihat. The youth, identified as Wanphrangsngi Syiemlieh from Nongkyndong Saiden, had allegedly participated in the theft of a mobile phone with his friends. However, when disagreements arose over the distribution of the stolen money, the group turned on him. Fearing he would be beaten, the youth fled, with his companions in pursuit, and in his panic, he jumped into the river.
Family members told the press today that the dispute was over just Rs 300, which the youth refused to share with the others. His companions, angered by this, allegedly planned to assault him. In a desperate attempt to avoid the beating, he ran away, but the group chased him until he leapt into the Umtrew River.
The search operation for the youth is still underway, with assistance from the State Response Team (SRT), the Fire & Emergency Services, and the Byrnihat Police. As of the time of this report, there has been no confirmation on whether he drowned or is still alive.
