Water supply scheme under JMM vandalised at Thoubal Houses of two suspects ransacked

Our Correspondent
Thoubal, Oct 22 : Unidentified miscreants broke into and vandalized equipment at the PHED water supply scheme at Yairipok Pechi Khul in Thoubal district last night, damaging the electric motor pump and fuse.
The incident has sparked outrage among local residents, who retaliated by vandalizing the homes of two individuals suspected of being involved in the act.
The two individuals whose homes were targeted are Keisham Brojendro, a resident of Yairipok Bamon Leikai, and Yumnam Muk-ta, a resident of Pechi Khul.
Brojendro, however, denied any involvement in the vandalism of the water supply scheme, alleging that the mob that attacked his house also stole a significant amount of cash and gold.
According to reports culled from the spot, the water supply scheme at Yairipok Pechi Khul is being implemented by PHED as part of the Jal Jeevan Mission and is nearing completion.
Reports indicate that the water supply scheme was set to commence operations today, despite not being officially inaugurated, to alleviate the water scarcity issues faced by the local community.
The locals said that the electrical motor pump was damaged, the fuse was removed, and an unidentified liquid, possibly oil or acid, was found inside the motor pump.
The locals claimed that they went to Yairipok police station to lodge a complaint, seeking action against those responsible for vandalizing the water supply scheme.
However, when the police allegedly refused to accept their complaint, the Pechi Khul residents took matters into their own hands, attacking the homes of Keisham Brojen and Yumnam Mukta, whom they suspected of being involved in the vandalism.
Meanwhile, Keisham Brojendro denied any involvement in the vandalism of the water supply scheme.
Speaking to the media, he claimed that the mob who attacked his house also stole a large chunk of cash and gold from his residence.
He also claimed that the site where the water supply scheme is being set up is his patta land and a case is pending at a Court regarding the matter.
The Pechi Khul residents, however, countered that the site earmarked for the water supply scheme is actually a State land, as per Settlement Department records, but was transferred to the two individuals as patta land without their knowledge.
Brojendro claimed that the locals of Yairipok Pechi Khul attacked his house without any evidence of him being involved in the vandalism of the water supply scheme, solely because he is the owner of the land.
He claimed that the mob destroyed properties worth around Rs 15 lakh, apart from stealing Rs five lakh in cash for marup (informal rotating savings system) and gold ornaments. He also claimed that the mob also destroyed the house at Pechi Khul where his brothers live.
Saying that he was ostracised from Pechi Khul, he appealed to the authorities to arrest the individuals who vandalised the water supply scheme as well as those involved in attacking his house.