Imphal, June 06: Even as a strong police contingent foiled the NH-39 bandh called by the JAC Against the Eviction of Lei-Ingkhol today, another bandh along Tiddim line and an Imphal bazar bandh has been called tomorrow to protest the shooting of 5 non-Manipuri yesterday at Nambol in which one of the victims died.

In a statement issued to the press today, the JAC said that the NH-39 bandh started from 6 am and the highway was blockaded at Sangakpham and Mantripukhri.

However at 6.30 am a strong police force arrived at the scene and tried to disperse the bandh supporters.

As the JAC members and other residents of Lei-Ingkhol refused to yield, the police resorted to lathi-charge and fired tear gas shells, rubber bullets and mock bombs, said the JAC.

Six women were injured in the police action and the condition of one of them is serious, said the JAC adding that she was hit by a rubber bullet near the left ear.

A large portion of flesh was blown away by the rubber bullet.

Three persons were also arrested by the police.

Seven physically challenged women were also picked up from the spot of the dharna by the police.

After dispersing the bandh enforcers, the police laid siege to Lei-Ingkhol, said the JAC and added that some young men and women however managed to sneak out and enforce the bandh at Mantripukhri at about 1 pm.

Here again the police arrived and after lathi charging them arrested one woman and a youth.

Decrying the action of the police and the insensitivity of the Government, the JAC said that what they are demanding is nothing but protection of their ancestral homes and primary infrastructure from being destroyed to make way for the Capitol project.

The bandh was called as the last resort as repeated representations and even a month long dharna failed to move the Government.

The statement went on to say that come what may, the opposition to the Government plan to construct the Capitol project at Lei-Ingkhol will go on unabated.

The people of Lei-Ingkhol are not against the Capitol project per se, but are against their eviction.

Tiddim line bandh: Strongly protesting the shooting of five non-Manipuris by unidentified gunmen at Nambol yesterday, in which one of the victims died, the United Women's Development Organisation, Nambol has called a 24 hour Tiddim line bandh tomorrow.

The bandh will be enforced from 6 am.

A bandh was also imposed at Nambol area along Tiddim line to protest the shooting today.

All shops remained closed.

The five non-Manipuri shot yesterday included three brothers namely, Radheshyam Sahni (40), Ram Ratan Sahni (37) and Ram Das Sahni (35).The two others include their first cousin Ukal Sahni (30) and another man identified a Saroj (32).All the victims are from Bihar.

The victim who died in the shooting is identified as Ram Das Sahni.

He passed away at RIMS.

Ram Ratan Sahni and Saroj are stated to be in critical conditions at RIMS hospital.

Saroj works at a bakery while the others eked out a living working as porters at Nambol bazar.

Ram Das Sahni was cremated at Nambol today after post mortem at RIMS morgue.

Pitching in and demonstrating their protest over the shooting of the five persons, the All Manipur Mutiya Workers' Union, Imphal has decided to impose a bazar bandh in Imphal from 6 am till 6 pm tomorrow.

The decision to impose the bandh was taken during a meeting held by the Union today, said a statement.

Strongly condemning the incident, the Mutiyas in a statement said that the five were shot without any mercy inside their rented room resulting in the death of Ram Das while the others are in critical conditions at RIMS hospital.

The statement also appealed to all concerned not to allow such mindless bloodshed in the future.

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