IMPHAL, March 13: A woman protestor, supporting the ongoing indefinite bandh along the National Highway 37 imposed by the JAC Namthanjang, was seriously injured in police firing today.
Enrage over the alleged act of police brutality, the JAC demanded the Government to immediately suspend the police personnel who shot the woman or face the wrath of the public.
The victim has been identified as one Hoikim, 42, wife of Goumang Haokip of New Keithelmanbi, president of the women’s union of the area.
It has been informed that the incident occurred around 5 in the evening near Namthanjang village.
The victim sustained injury on her left abdomen and is currently undergoing treatment at the RIMS.
Even though the injury apparently was caused by a projectile, it is yet to be confirmed whether the projectile was a rubber bullet or live ammunitions till the time of filing this report.
In response to the JAC’s bandh, a group of women protestors came out on the NH-37 near Namthanjang from early morning today restricting movement of vehicles along the highway.
The women protestors piled up logs, burning tyres and formed human chain to block the Highway.
However, the scene turned ugly late in the evening when security forces escorted a convoy of trucks from Jiribam.
According to a protestor who accompanied the victim at RIMS, a team of state forces escorted a convoy of trucks back to Imphal.
The convoy was denied passage by the supporters resulting in a brief confrontation between both sides, she said.
She further revealed that the convoy was later given passage after an understanding however without a police personnel intentionally shot Hoikim, she said.
She further disclosed that the police personnel who shot Hoikim had a name plate of H Kipgen on his chest.
Speaking to media persons JAC convenor, Lungthuilung Riamei, questioned the intention of the police while condemning at the strongest term.
Demanding removal of the erring police personnel from job immediately, he informed that their agitation will be intensified.
Warning that any unwanted circumstances arising out of the bandh shall be the responsibility of the Government, he held that JAC is ready to fight tooth and nail until the demand is met.
It may be noted that the JAC Namthanjang village imposed the indefinite bandh along the NH 37 from midnight yesterday following the failure of the authority concerned to release three of its church leaders reportedly arrested by the Saparmeina police on March 8 on wrong charge.