Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 09:
On the charge of having relations with the proscribed PREPAK, three youths from Thoubal were reportedly picked up by troops of 34 Assam Rifles.
The three youths were beaten severely by the AR personnel and were released later.
Not only that, the AR personnel reportedly told the three youths that some more people would also be picked up.
On learning the AR's intention, the local people have been caught in a panicky situation.
Disturbed and apprehensive as they are, the local people of Thoubal submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister O Ibobi demanding to book the miscreants who provided false information to security forces within five days.
Akoijam Sonek (27) s/o Madhumangol of Thoubal Mayai Leikai and his tenents��Naorem Premkumar (24) and Y Santakumar (24) who did carpentary works there were pulled up by troops of 34 AR at aabout 1.30 am of August 4 .
Talking to media persons, Sonek said that there was one masked man who spoke Manipuri among the AR personnel.
The masked man reportedly said to him, "Aren't you a cadre of the PREPAK ? Why you are behaving in haughty manner in the locality?", recounted Sonek.
Premkumar and Santakumar belong to Kakching Mayai Leikai.
Staying at the rented rooms of Sonek, they were working in the carpentary shop run by one W Ingocha at Thoubal Keithel.
In connection with the arrest of the three youths, a public meeting was held at Thoubal Keithel on August 7 during which several resolutions were adopted.
Submission of complaint letters to the DC and SP on picking up and thrashing innocent people by Assam Rifles, expulsion of the individual from the locality in case the three youths were pulled up on false information he fed to Assam Rifles and prohibiting stay of unidentified persons in the locality were some of the resolutions adopted in the meeting.
On the other hand, condemning the Assam Rifles alleged act of picking up and thrashing innocent youths, a protest sitting was staged at Thoubal Sekpi Khongnang Khong today.