IMPHAL, October 7: Three cadres of the Zoumi Reunification Army, a Kuki militant outfit under the Suspension of Operation with the government fired indiscriminately today at the Langol game Village Zone II residence of P Songlianlal, 50, proprietor and Principal of St Peter School.
The indiscriminate firing which occurred this morning around 9:30am injured the Principal’s wife identified as Manpi, 48 and son Lankhanson, 28. Both who were rushed to the nearby Shija Hospital are said to be out of danger.
Manpi was shot in her left forearm while, their son Lankhanson was shot in the right shoulder.
Speaking to media persons at the spot (which acts as both the school and his residence), Songlianlal said he was having lunch with his family inside his kitchen at around 9:30am when the three alleged ZRA cadres entered his house.
His wife enquired who they were at which one of the three replied that they have to talk to the principal, he said.
He further told media persons that he could identify one of the three as a cadre of the ZRA.
In the meantime, his son went out of the kitchen after finishing his lunch, he continued.
Soon after he heard gunshots inside his residence, he said.
Hearing the gunshots, his wife ran out and confronted the three after which several more gun shots were fired by the three and fled from the scene, he said.
He further continued that the locals managed to nab one of the three fleeing assailants while they were trying to escape.
Locals also seized a .38 pistol and five live rounds from the nabbed militant who is identified as Thangboi Tingduin, 34 son of KG Tingduin of Thanglon, Churachandpur, he further told media persons.
He also informed that he knew Thangboi Tingduin from before as the latter’s father used to teach with him.
He further disclosed that he had contested the recently held Manipur Assembly election with an AITC ticket from Churachandpur.
However before the election, he had received several threats from the ZRA asking him not to file his nomination for the election, but he continued to fight the election and was defeated.
Even after he lost the election the ZRA continued to threatened him, he alleged.
He also said in an earlier incident the ZRA had also threatened him that the outfit will ask the NSC N(IM) to kill him.
Meanwhile, locals decried the attacks and condemned disturbing the school atmosphere with such violent incidents.
They further echoed that such violence will leave a lasting impression on the young minds of the students of the school and the surrounding areas.
They further urged the government to produce the two ZRA cadres who feld from the scene and punished them according to the law of the land at the earliest.