14 hurt in Thoubal district bandh
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN

Imphal, January 25 2010: At least 14 persons including four women were injured when the police fired tear-gas shells to disperse the protestors during the 16-hour bandh called by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) formed against the killing of Md.Faziruddin Monday in Thoubal district of Manipur.

The 16-hour bandh was however effective only in Thoubal Moijing road and Mayang Imphal road.

Alleging the police commandos, Md.Sukur, member of JAC informed that at least 10 innocent people including three rick-shaw pullers were being picked up on Monday by the police while returning from their work.

An injured woman being attended to by others

The police charged them as bandh supporters, stated the JAC member.

Cautioning the government, Md.Sukur stated that they would intensify the agitation if the government fails to fulfill their demand.

Assistance from the civil society organizations would be sought, added the JAC member.

He also revealed that a memorandum had been submitted to the chief minister on Saturday and an application letter submitted on Sunday to the Moirang police station for investigating the matter.

It is worth recalling that Md.Faziruddin (45), was killed on the midnight of January 21 in an alleged encounter by 33rd Assam Rifles at Kwakta Saiton village, Bishenpur district.

According to police, one 9mm pistol along with two live rounds were recovered from the slain man and alleged that he was a cadre of an underground outfit, Public United Liberation Front (PULF).

However, according to the family members, Faziruddin was not killed in an encounter.

They stated that the victim was picked up while he was having dinner at around 11 pm by the armed persons suspected to be security force personnel who came in civvies.

He was wearing a shirt and a towel along with shawl when he was picked up from home.

However, when they saw the dead body he was wearing a grey shirt and a pair of camouflage pants.