Imphal, September 08: Alleging that Th Apik of Heirok Part II Thokchom Leikai who was shot dead by Imphal West police commandos was an innocent civilian, residents of Heirok today staged a protest rally.

Apik was killed in an alleged shoot out with Imphal West police commandos on September 6 and it was reported that he was a suspected cadre of the KCP (MC).

The people of Heirok claimed that Apik ran a pan dukan and he had gone to Imphal on the said day to buy provisions for his shop.

On learning that the man killed on August 6 was Apik, people of Heirok immediately convened a public meeting today and after forming a JAC a large number of people boarded four buses, one truck and one DI Tata to proceed towards the CM's residence and submit a memorandum.

The team from Heirok was however stopped by a strong police force at MU gate and not allowed to proceed further.

Incensed over the obstruction, the people of Heirok alighted from their vehicles and stopped all vehicular movement on NH-39 for some time.

The incensed protestors then tried to take out a procession with banners inscribed with the words, "Militants, security forces have been killing the people of Heirok.

Now come and kill us all.' The police allowed the protestors to proceed up to Kakwa bazar from MU gate.

Many of the protestors wept in the open.

From Kakwa bazar, the police allowed some representatives of the JAC to proceed to the CM's residence and submit the memorandum while the rest blocked half of NH-39.In the memorandum, the JAC pointed out that Apik was an innocent civilian supporting his family including three children by running the pan dukan, to immediately fire the guilty police commandos or else the body of Apik would not be taken back.

The JAC also demanded that an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakhs should be given to the family members before the shraddha as well as to provide Government job to one family member.

The Chief Minister said that the matter will be discussed along with the SPs of Imphal West and East tomorrow.