Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, November 09 2009:
Troops of Assam Rifles today alleged assaulted to injure severely at head of the driver of a vehicle carrying a team of media persons from Imphal for covering general strike in Chandel district called demanding replacement of Chief Executive Officer of Chandel Autonomous District Council.
They also detained the media persons with no reason.
The incident occurred at about 1.30 pm at Molnoi village before reaching Chandel district headquarter.
The reporters were traveling on a Bolero vehicle together.
The team was coming back after coverage protest at Molnoi village towards Lamkang centre which is around 2 km from the spot.
When the vehicle was about to take a turn after media persons step down from the vehicle, AR troopers coming on two Gypsy and dispersed protestors blocking road there with baton charge them.
The driver of the Bolero vehicle identified as Hoagan Haokip (28) of Langol Game village, Imphal which media persons were travelling was forced to step down from the vehicle.
After forcing him to lie on the ground, troopers assault him.
They also kicked with their boots.
In the assault, he suffered injury at the back side of the head.
He was treated at Kakching CHC.
Doctors gave him first aid there.
Later, AR personnel turned towards the media persons and ordered to seat on the roadside by keeping their cameras before them.
They asked the media persons with whom they were coming with and alleging that media persons tried to run away on seeing them threatened that they will shoot at if run away.
After some minutes of detention, they asked media persons to leave the area and left the spot.
The media persons detained by the AR were ISTV's Surendra and Yumnam Ibomcha of
Matamgi Yakairol.