IMPHAL, November 20: A 2-year-old boy was hit by a bullet, when miscreants fired gun-shot at the residence of a BJP worker in Thounju Part-II, on the eve of Thongju bye-poll.
The infant has been identified as one Chirom Lanchenba (two years and six months old), son of Chirom Saratbabu (44) of Thongju Part-II Feija Leitong Maibee Lampak.
Lanchenba received a bullet on his back however is said to be recovering slowly in ICU of Shija Hospital.
According to the victim`™s father Ch Saratbabu, the incident occurred just 10 minutes past midnight November 19.
He said he heard a gunshot very close to his residence adding that alarmed by the sound he held his son, who was sleeping with him, close to him.
Saratbabu further revealed that seconds after the first shot was fired he heard few more shots this time further away from his residence.
The family only came to realise that his son was hit by a bullet following his loud cry, he said.
Moreover, he continued that his son`™s breathing was not right while his whole body was getting colder by the mintues.
When he tried to pick his son, he noticed blood on his shirt and found a bullet hole on his back, said Saratbabu.
The boy was immediately rushed to RIMS where he (victim) was later shifted to Shija Hospital. An operation was reportedly conducted on the boy and removed the projectile.
The bullet hit the minor boy after it pierce through the wall (tin) and wooden bed border.
Speaking to media persons, Saratbabu said that he has no enmity with anyone. However, he assumed that the attack could be related with the current bye election.
He disclosed that he earlier was an active worker of the Congress candidate of his constituency but recently joined BJP to support, Thongam Bishwajit.
Implying the attack was carried out by rival party, he termed the attack was a narrow minded politics influenced by uncivilised individual.
Saratbabu urged the perpetrator not to repeat such inhumane incident in the future and further challenged the perpetrator to openly confront him in person if they have any complaints rather than attacking him like a coward.
Meanwhile, the Thongju Feija local women staged a sit in demonstration denouncing the attack at the local ground.
The protester has demanded the authority concerned to book the culprit involved in the attack at the earliest.
Terming the act a heinous and cowardly act, the protestors speculated that the perpetrators could be some from the locality who is known to Saratbabu.