Imphal, March 06, 2010: Advocate General of Government of Manipur, Nongmeikapam Koteshwor sustained injuries when a bullet coming from an unknown origin hit him tonight around 7.45 at Nongada under Lamlai police station, on the way back to Imphal after attending a function in Ukhrul district with ministers.

On the other hand, Lamlai police baton-charged villagers of Nongada village who rose in protest alleging that the rounds of gunfire by the ministers' team caused panic among the villagers after the incident of injuring the Advocate General.

The bullet that hit the left arm of Advocate General remained stuck in the chest.

However, hospital source said his condition was stable and out of danger.

He has been admitted to RIMS hospital.

The incident occurred while returning from Ukhrul�s Hunpung village where the Advocate General, N Koteshwor along with Works Minister K Ranjit, Tribal Development Minister DD Thaisii and their security escorts attended a celebration of Luira Phanit held at the Hunpung Mini Stadium in Ukhrul district.

The advocate general was together with the two ministers in a government vehicle allotted to Minister, K Ranjit for the security convenience on the way at dusk.

Koteshwor reportedly sat in the front seat of the Minister�s car while Ministers Ranjit and DD Thaisii were sitting together in the back seat, according to eyewitness accounts.

The team left Hunpung at about 6 pm.

On the way starting from between Mahadev and Litan, many rounds of gunshots were fired.

Firing of at least three rounds of gunshot was also heard when the team arrived near the locality of the state health and family welfare minister, Ph Parijat.

No sooner had the firing sounds were heard, a vehicle in which the advocate general and the two ministers were traveling overtook the vehicles of the security escort and sped up.

Later it came to be known that the advocate general was wounded by a bullet.

The vehicle rushed to JN Hospital where the injured advocate general was given first aids and shifted to RIMS Hospital.

Escort personnel later requested media persons not to take photos of the injured advocate.

How the advocate general sustained bullet injury is still a mystery as there were no sign of attacking from second party during the journey of the minister.

Later, alleging that firing of guns by the ministers team has caused fear and panic to them, villagers of Nongada rose up and stormed the Lamlai police station to lodge complaint.

When the police personnel at the police station lathi-charged to quell them out many of them sustained injuries but any of them received serious injuries, reports said.

Police are still mum on how the advocate general sustained bullet injuries.