Six people injured in fight over church property in Mizoram

Aizawl, Jan 12 (UNI) About six people including four policemen were injured in a clash between two factions of United Pentecostal Church (UPC) over property dispute here.

Police said here today that the youths of UPC (Northeast India) and UPC (Mizoram) picked up a fight following an alleged extension of a pastor quarters at Tuikhuahtlang locality, which is currently occupied by UPC (Mizoram).

Police had launched a massive manhunt against the youths but nobody was arrested so far, police said.

Leaders of the two factions had a meeting with additional Deputy Commissioner R Lalhmangaiha this morning and administration had issued stay order to the extension work, sources said.

The UPC in Mizoram was divided into two factions in 1994 that left the church's general headquarters complex at Tuikhuahtlang in a dispute.

While the district authorities have locked the church building and office buildings, the pastor quarters were divided temporarily between the two factions following a mutual agreement.

However, the UPC (Mizoram) has started extension of its occupied pastor quarters without the consent of the UPC (NE) since the past few days that enraged the youths, church sources said.

UNI