IMPHAL, June 8: The agitation over the alleged murder and rape of Ningthoujam Rebika took a sudden twist today when locals of Heirok and Wangjing came close to a violent face-off over the alleged involvement of a Wangjing local identified as Bishe in the case.
However, police stepped in and fired several tear gas shells to defuse the tension and disperse the two sides.
At the same time Heirok MLA Moiranghtem Okendro who came to take stock of the situation faced the ire of the locals who pelted stones at his convoy damaging his car`™s windshield.
According to information culled from today`™s incident site, around 7:30 am, locals of Wangjing started doing a publicity round using loudspeakers to convene a public meeting against the burning down of Bishe`™s house.
The locals also blocked the IVR connecting Wangjing and Heirok against allegations of Ningthoujam Bishe`™s involvement in the killing of Rebika and the subsequent burning down of his house by a mob from Rebika`™s locality on June 6.
Infuriated on getting information about the road block, Heirok locals also came out in full strength to confront the Wangjing locals while declaring that the latter`™s upheaval against the public of Heirok is inappropriate and inconsequent at a time when the burning issue is the rape and murder of a 25-year-old woman.
Even as the two sides were standing face to face for a confrontation, a huge Thoubal police team including commandos arrived and dispersed the Wangjing locals by firing tear gas shells.
On the other hand, a face-off ensued between the police and the Heirok locals near the Wangjing Awang Leikai.
The police needed additional force and also fired tear gas shells, rubber bullets and live bullets to disperse the protestors. The protestors also fired sling-shots and pelted stones towards the police. The police-protestors showdown lasted for around three hours.
The police however managed to turn back the protestors towards their village.
During the commotion, more than 20 persons including two women were injured and around 28 protestors of Heirok were arrested by the police. The arrested were released later in the day.
However, many of the 28 arrested and released had to be taken to the Heirok CHC for treatment after they complained of undergoing severe beatings from the police.
Two of them were also referred and taken to RIMS for further treatment.
In the meantime, around 10:20 am, local MLA Moiranghtem Okendro arrived with his escort team at Heirok Part II Laimayum area to talk with the protestors.
However, the protestors angered by his late arrival pelted stones damaging the windshields of the MLA`™s government allotted Verna car bearing regd no MN 01W 8688.
This made the MLA turn back and return without stopping, however, the protestors besieged the three Gypsy vehicles (bearing regd nos N 01 W 3024, MN 01 W 3025 and MN 01 X 3408) of 1st MR DGP pool escorting the minister and released them only after damaging the windshields.
The minister was later escorted by a Thoubal Cdo team upto Imphal.
It may be mentioned that N Bisojit alias Bise son of (L) N Tombi of Wangjing Tekcham Leikai had called a press conference yesterday clarifying his innocence in the killing of Rebika. He had said that he was released by the police who picked him up for enquiry on the incident on June 6, the day when a mob protesting the killing had burned down the houses of three suspects including Bishe`™s.
On the other hand, the JAC formed in connection to the death of Rebika has condemned today`™s confrontation between the locals of the two villagers as unfortunate.
During a press conference held this evening at Heirok, JAC member Kh Sini said the incident was unfortunate however, the use of loudspeakers for a publicity round by the Wangjing villagers had started the confrontation.
He continued that the JAC had high hopes that the Chief Minister will not take lightly Rebika`™s killing and punish all the culprits at the earliest. He added that the IO of the case had also assured to fully investigate the case.
The JAC and the family will not demand ex-gratia and it is the firm stand of the JAC to fight without violence to get justice in the case, he said.
He said the JAC had failed to covey its stand to the people of Heirok.
Meanwhile, the alleged rape and murder of Rebika has been condemned by All Manipur Nupi Marup and its Thoubal branch, Kairembikhok Nupi Samaj, Women in Governance, Thoubal Chapter among others.