Imphal, January 17: Following an alleged firing on a civilian by suspected UG cadres at Sugnu bazar this morning, tension is running high with allegations and counter allegations flying thick and fast.

As per information given by some people of the area, tension started after an armed man opened fire towards a civilian identified as Aheibam Dineshwar (42) s/o late Anand of Sugnu Awang Leikai at his residential gate at about 9.30 am today.

The man who opened fire was among four suspected UG cadres who came in a Maruti Gypsy (MN-07/2598). However, Dineshwar, a Havildar in the 2nd MR, reacted fast and managed to push aside the hand holding the gun and escaped the bullet.

On the other hand a press release issued by the UKLF's Information and Publicity secretary Th James Bond claimed that an altercation followed when one suspected UG cadre attempted to harass and abused two cadres of the UKLF in communally derogatory terms while they were trying to park their vehicle in an open space.

The individual suspected to be a cadre of another UG group even tried manhandle the UKLF cadres forcing the latter to open fire in the air in self defence, maintained James Bond However, according to Dineshwar, three persons came in a vehicle and went to the house of Otkholun Haokip (61) located just opposite to his house.

The one who fired at him stayed back beside the Gypsy.

The vehicle was parked just in front of his gate, he said.

The armed man opened fire when Dineshwar told him to take the Gypsy to a little distance away so that he can pull his hand-cart.

This incensed the UG cadre he pulled out a gun.

Dineshwar, in reflex, pushed the assailant just as he tried to pulled the trigger, he said.

After the incident, the assailant came inside his house and tried to take him away at gun point.

As news spread, people started gathering and a tense situation ensued.

Lamling wife of Otkholun Haokip, said that she was in the bathroom when the armed men entered their house.

Even though she heard a loud sound, she never thought that it was a gun shot.

"We came to know about the incident later," said Lamling.

In connection with the attack, a public meeting was held at Sugnu wherein several resolutions were adopted.

The local people also took out a rally against the incident at Sugnu.

It is reported that one particular UG group has been intimidating and abusing people of a certain community in Sugnu area where Anals, Kukis, Zous, Meiteis, Nepalis, Bengalis, Koms, Lamkangs etc have been living together.

In addition to condemning the armed attack, the public meeting held today decided to convene a meeting of all community leaders to restore peace and harmony in the area.

Another resolution of the meeting was to appeal to the authority concerned to ensure that no communal and violent conflicts result from non-compliance of ground rules by some UG groups currently under Suspension of Operation (SoO) pact with central security forces.

Subsequent upon the armed attack, an adhoc committee was also constituted.

Meanwhile, local MLA and Works Minister K Ranjit has appealed to all the people to avoid any communal or ethnic conflict because of today's incident.

Questioning the motive behind shouting the slogan of hill-valley unity and at the same time abusing people of certain ethnic groups, the UKLF, in their press release, noted that no peace/unity rally could solve the problem in the prevailing situation.

It further alleged that womenfolk/Meira Paibis of Sugnu Awang Leikai have been forcibly trying to collect Rs 7 from each Kuki household settling in Sugnu Awang leikai.

The UKLF also condemned the search operation conducted by police and IRB personnel at the home of Okholun Haokip in relation with today's incident.

It accused the security forces of being discriminatory.