Newmai News Network
Imphal: At least five persons including a woman were injured after a group of armed miscreants, who allegedly tried to abduct a person, fired some rounds toward a crowd at Kwakeithel Konjeng Haraji Leikai under Imphal police station of Imphal West district on Saturday night.
Locals as well as a joint action committee formed in connection with the firing incident pointed out involvement of a former president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), Manipur Pradesh while demanding booking of the culprits.
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Locals said that last night, around 11 pm, a group of masked armed miscreants in four-wheelers came at the house of Khaidem Satyajit alias Bobo (38) at Kwakeithel Konjeng Haraji Leikai and tried to whisk him away (Bobo) at gunpoint.
After the wife of Bobo sounded an alarm, a large number of locals including womenfolk who were on night vigil at the locality stormed the house and prevented the armed miscreants from whisking away Bobo.
At the same time, among the locals, some pelted stones towards the armed miscreants who fired some rounds of guns before leaving the spot.
In the firing at least five persons including a woman sustained bullet injuries. They were immediately rushed to nearby hospitals.
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Soon after the firing incidents, teams of police rushed to the spot and took stock of the situation. The police also called out forensic experts of the Police department who collected the empty cases for further examination.
Meanwhile, Bobo related the incident with a post on his Facebook account in which Manoharmayum Barish Sharma, former president of BJYM Manipur Pradesh strongly reacted and sought an apology.
A joint action committee (JAC) formed in connection with the incident also pointed out involvement of the former BJYM president while demanding booking of the culprits including the former BJYM president for taking up appropriate legal action against them.
Addressing the media today, leaders of the JAC alleged that the former BJYM president in collaboration with the masked persons was behind the violent incident of last night.
Convener Chongtham Iboyaima of the JAC elaborated on the root of yesterday’s conflict and said a strong disagreement between Bobo and Barish Sharma surfaced over a Facebook post.
The perpetrators should be arrested within 2 pm of October 16. Otherwise, the JAC will be compelled to launch a series of agitations, Iboyaima warned,
He asserted that the Home department must take the gun violence incident seriously and take appropriate action against the armed miscreants while stressing the need for checking such activities which are the source of terror in the strife-torn state.
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The JAC convener also claimed that the local youth managed to detain a two-wheeler involved in the incident. Upon checking, it was found that the two-wheeler was registered in the name of one Ajitkumar.
The JAC convener further disclosed that they have lodged a complaint to the Imphal police station with regard to the incident with a request to register a FIR and take necessary legal actions.
The JAC will also submit a memorandum to the chief minister for his immediate attention and action, he added.