IMPHAL, March 10: An Aimol villager suffered bullet injuries this morning around 8:30, when an unidentified miscreant shot at him while he was sitting inside his parked vehicle at Aimol Road near Pallel Bazar which is about 30 metre east of Pallel Police Station.
The injured identified as NL Areng alias Rengneisek Aimol, 39 son of Neichung of Aimol Kumbirei Village is presently admitted at the ICU, Shija Hospital in Imphal.
Areng is said to be providing his vehicle on reserve service at Pallel Bazar to earn his livelihood.
According to sources culled from the incident site, around 8:30am today, Aleng had parked his vehicle at Pallel Bazar and waiting for his passengers, when an unidentified miscreant came before him and shot him four times from a small arm before escaping along the Aimol Road.
Three of the shots hit the steering wheel, while the fourth hit him left stomach.
Eye witnesses also informed that the injured Aleng ran inside the Pallel Police Station.
Police personnel on duty in the area acted swiftly and pursued the assailant, but he managed to escape taking advantage of the crowd.
The police personnel then rushed the injured Aleng to the Jeevan Hospital in Kakching, from where he was referred to Shija Hospital.
Soon after getting information, a Thoubal Police team led by additional SP N Nimai and Thoubal commandos conducted a search operation in the Pallel bazar and the nearby areas.
Meanwhile, decrying the shooting of a civilian in a bazar area, the Pallel Bazar Board, Pallel Apunba Luchingbi Ima (Palem) SDO Pallel, YVO Pallel, Ching tam Apunba Nupi Lup Pallel Area, staged a sit in protest by closing down the bazar.
The protestors decried the incident and demanded that Pallel area should not be made into a war-zone.
Ching tam Apunba Nupi Lup president Nungsi also decried the shooting of a man in a populated area and demanded that such an act of violence should not be repeated in the future.
On the other hand, womenfolk of Aimol Satu, Kombeire, Chingnunghut, Khunyai supported by womenfolk of Lamkang, Moyon, Monsang, Maring, Tarao, Anal and Chothe also staged a sit in protest decrying the incident and alleging that Aleng was attacked by a suspected cadre of a Kuki armed outfit.
Aimol Nungmeibar general secretary S Chokemi said in case the assailant is not arrested at the earliest, a road block will be imposed soon.
Meanwhile, SP Chandel Herojit and IG Dr S Ibocha also inspected the area.