Imphal, March 16 2009: Saturday night was a night of mourning for the Heirok residents in Thoubal district.

They remembered the day (fourth day of Yaosang festival) on which three youths of the village including two teenage girls killed in an indiscriminating firing by militants with candle lights to every households.

It was on the night of the fourth day of the festival that cadres of PREPAK open fire indiscriminately at a Thabal Chongpham (place where traditional dance in the moonlight arrange) killing three youths of Heirok village including two teenage girls and another girls with severe injury making permanent blind.

The advent of Yaosang festival happened to be arrival of another dark day for the villagers of Heirok in Thoubal district who have been forced to remain confine to their own village after they announced boycott to all militant groups operating in the state.

Official reports said, last night, the villagers remembered the incident that shock them by lighting candles.

Villagers of Heirok have been banning from moving out from their village after they choose to arm supply by government for self defense by opening Special Police Officers (SPOs) later rechristened as Village Defense Force despite strong warning from some underground organizations.

Villagers of Heirok, it can be recalled that have been against the militants after three local youths including two girls were killed leaving another girl blind in an indiscriminating firing during Yaosang (Holy) festival in March 2008. Agreeing to their demand for issue of arms, Manipur government decided to open SPO in the area after 300 youths were recruited as volunteers.

The installation works for the SPO is currently under progress.