Imphal, January 04 2008: POLICE TODAY fired several tear gas shells and mob dispersion ammunitions to control a crowd attempting to set ablaze a bridge across a river at Keirao in Imphal east district against the detention of three village youths by the police in connection with the murder of a 12-year boy.

Police picked up three village youths in connection with the murder of a boy named Md Wahidur alias Naocha (12), son ofo Maheruddin of Keirao Makting Makha Leikai under Irilbung police station who went missing after he go for collecting firewood from Urup hills was found murder on Friday morning.

Family of the boy supported by the villagers has been demanding the police to find the culprits.

While pressing the police, yesterday they stormed the local (Irilbung) police station which left two women hurt in police firing to control them.

Later, in the evening police picked up three youths hailing from the neighbouring Langdum village of the murdered boy for interrogation in connection with the murder case even as villagers strongly objected.

The picked up of three youth also led to high tension among the villagers of the two neighbouring villages.

Today, demanding the un-conditional released of the three youths the villager rose up and attempted to march towards the police station at around 11 am in which police prevented.

Later, irate people converged at the bridge across the Iril river along the Imphal-Yairipok road and attempted to set ablaze it in bid to attempt cut-off the police station as well as the village of the murder boy belongs to.

On time arrival of the police from Imphal to the spot prevented from damaging the bridge.

Police fired several rounds of tear gas in blocking and preventing the people from causing damage to the bridge.

Minor injuries were inflicted to the protesters in the police dispersion action but they need not hospitalize.