IMPHAL, Jun 27: After 12 persons of one group of people including a four year old kid were inflicted injuries by another group, another boy has been killed as tension escalated between the groups in Lilong Nungei area, Thoubal district. Meanwhile, curfew has been imposed in Lilong Nungei and adjoining areas with effect from 5 pm today until further orders. The District Magistrate, Thoubal issued an order to this effect today.
According to information culled from the spot, representatives of a JAC constituted against inflicting injuries upon the 12 persons went to Laishram Leirak to hold a meeting with the other group. However, the other party was seen grouping and arming themselves with deadly weapons to attack the JAC’s party. This sparked a violent confrontation between the two groups.
As the JAC’s team approached Laishram Leirak, some people armed with deadly weapons asked them (JAC) with whose permission they have ventured into their area. As the JAC’s team was chased out, the two sides pelted stones against each other. In their bid to prevent the situation from going out of control, police and IRB personnel deployed there opened several rounds of fire in the air. In the ensuing melee, a 14 year old boy was hit by a bullet on the head. He succumbed to his injuries on the way to hospital.
Although it is not yet clear who shot the bullet that killed the boy, a case has been registered at Lilong police station. At around 9.30 pm yesterday, a group of people attacked a neighbouring village using firearms and stones. The attack forced many villagers to flee from their homesteads apart from damaging three houses. Holes made by live bullets were seen in a bus belonging to 2nd IRB and its rear glass pane was found completely shattered as it also bore the brunt of last night’s attack. Although police and IRB personnel were present in the area, one group of people continued firing continuously using SBBL guns.
Armed persons were seen marching towards Lilong Nungei village from three sides this morning but they were somehow driven back by IRB personnel deployed there. Thoubal SSP K Radhashyam came to the spot and stringent security measures were put in place in and around the area. Security reinforcement comprising of CRPF, commando and IRB personnel have been deployed in the area. Meanwhile JAC Against the Brutal Firing at Nungei Meira Paibi convenor Khaidem Sanjoy told media persons that the CJM Thoubal summoned three persons to the Court on July 28 in connection with an incident which took place at around 8.30 pm of April 11. The three accused listed in the case are Md Amuthi alias Kheiruddin (30) s/o Khomei of Lilong Hangamthabi, Md Qutubuddin (35) s/o late Rahimuddin of Lilong Chingkham Makha Sirin Thong and Md Ithem (28) s/o Islauddin of Lilong Dam Makha.
An order issued by the CJM Thoubal on June 20 summoned them to the Court on July 28.
An FIR was registered against them at Lilong police station under IPC 307/326/34 and 27 Arms Act. With the Court initiating due procedure to declare all three of them as proclaimed offenders, the JAC was prepared to remove the fences put up on two sides of Nungei village. But the matter was delayed as there was no positive response from neighbouring villages to its invitation to hold a meeting. As usual, a team of Thoubal commandos was dismantling a portion of a fence put up along a road between Lilong Leimaching and Thumkhongching at around 3 pm yesterday so that they could drive their vehicles past the fence. However, some youngsters presented there objected to dismantling any portion of the fence. At this, the commando team called the youngsters for questioning. However, the commando team was accused of assaulting the youngsters and soon a public meeting was held.
Many speakers who addressed the meeting even threatened to kill commandos as well as police personnel, according to Khaidem Sanjoy. Caught in a panicky situation following the attack and the resultant tense situation, many villagers fled to neighbouring Iram Siphai. In the meantime, the All Manipur Muslim Organisation Coordinating Committee (AMMOCOC) has condemned in the strongest term the killing of a 14 year old boy this morning. AMMOCOC organisation secretary Md Abdul Quayum alleged that the bullet which hit and killed the boy was fired by IRB personnel. He also demanded the Government to take up befitting action against IRB personnel involved in the firing.
