IMPHAL, Feb 19: The IG, AR has asserted that the news reports of mindless hostilities allegedly carried out by personnel of 36 AR on the villagers of Sehlon on February 15 are factually incorrect.
In a rebuttal issued today, the paramilitary claimed that Mangat Ram, the civil contractor, was murdered by three youths of Sehlon, including the sons of the village chiefs of Sehlon and Wayang, Jamjathang and Thongkhosei.
The helper of the contractor, Gajender Singh Shekhawat, was an eye-witness to the homicide. As per the account of Gajender, it stated, the killers, Songkhonpao, Jamjathang’s son; Tiljangam, Thongkhosei’s son; and Paokholet Haokip were noticed entering their shop from the back door. They tried to catch hold of him unsuccessfully. He ran to the nearest sentry post and sought help. But, by the time AR personnel arrived Mangat Ram was found dead. Following up, the personnel kept the three suspected murderers at the RP post in the presence of the villagers of Sehlon, who were personally briefed by the commandant himself that they will be handed over to the police the next day for interrogation.
However, on February 15, when a police team came to take the trio into their custody, few miscreants among the crowd start pelting stones and some women attacked the police with long sticks and tried to snatch their weapons. As a measure to protect the police, themselves and their weapons from the violent crowd, the statement stated, Ar personnel intervened and snatched the sticks from the women. In the course of the events, eight personnel as well as few civilians were injured. It claimed that the commandant of the unit and chiefs of Sehlon and Wayang were present during the whole time and the injured civilians were administered medical aid by AR doctors.
It further clarified that village chief of Sehlon had himself expressed regret over the incident at a meeting at his residence on the same day. Representative of Kuki Students’ Organisation, James Doungel and Robul were briefed by the commandant in person on the incident. The statement added that the AR has full respect for Kuki customs and traditions and had worked for the welfare of the village.