Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 21, 2010:
Five Thoubal District Police personnel, who were invo-lved in baton charging and firing tear gas canisters that left at least 15 protestors injured, including a woman at Sangaiyumpham, on the night of October 19, have been suspended from ser-vice.
According to an official source, the five police personnel have been suspen- ded for the excesses committed on the protestors.
The source, however, did not disclose the identity of the suspended personnel.
It may be recalled here that police resorted to firing tear gas canisters and baton charge to disperse a large number of protestors from advancing towards Thoubal Police Station on the night of October 19. The protestors were demanding the release of one Zamir Khan (35) of Sangaiyumpham Part-II Moirang Palli Bazar, who was picked up by a combined team of 15 and 33 Assam Rifles from his house on alleged charge of being a member of NEMF.
The combined team later handed Zamir Khan over to the Thoubal Police Station along with 9 mm pistol and a magazine loaded with five bullets seized from his possession.
Protestors were prevented from advancing towards the Thoubal Police Station by the District Police who resorted to baton charge and fired tear gas as the protestors tried to break through the police barricade.
The protestors claimed that Zamir Khan is innocent.
Though the police claimed that 15 people sustained injuries in the crackdown, the JAC which was formed in connection with the incident has asserted that more than 30 people sustained injuries and the mini Vans in which they have come were damaged by the police.
The JAC members called on Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh and exerted pressure for taking up necessary action against the involved police personnel.
At the assurance of the Chief Minister to do the needful, the JAC had also withdrawn its proposed agitations.