Imphal, August 04 2010: At least seven persons, including two Thoubal district police commandos suffered injuries of varying degree when a clash broke out late last night at Lilong Ushoipokpi area.

While a police source claimed that locals assaulted a commando team who ventured into Ushoipokpi area based on 'specific information' locals alleged that about five commandos assaulted family members of one Md Sanayai as the later opposed monetary demand of the men in uniform.

In connection with the incident, a public meeting held today at Ushoipokpi Bazar culminated with the formation of a body christened 'JAC against the brutal torture of Md Sanayai's Family by Manipur police commandos'.

Apart from demanding termination of service of the commando personnel involved in the assault of Sanayai's family members, the meeting resolved that Rs 1.80 lakhs allegedly taken by the commando personnel be handed over the victim family through the JAC within August 6 and payment of Rs 50,000 each by the State Government for treatment of the injured locals.

Speaking to newspersons after the meeting, JAC co-convenor Kh Liyaqat Ali claimed that five persons who came in a white Maruti Gypsy without registration number barged into the Lilong Ushoipokpi residence of Md Sanayai at around 7.30 pm.

Stating that the numberless-vehicle had the letters signifying Thoubal CDO, Ali maintained that at the time of the commandos' arrival Sanayai's sons were counting currency notes of Rs 1.80 lakh worth which was the transaction amount for trade in pharmaceutical goods between the Sanayai family and Rana Medicos, BT Road.

Md Sanayai is informed to own a pharmaceutical shop in Moreh.

As Sanayai's family members refused to hand over Rs 50,000 as was demanded, one of the police commandos snatched the entire amount while his colleagues began to assault not only Sanayai's driver but others staying in adjacent rooms as well as some neighbours.

Md Samir alias Sotu (17) s/o Md sanayai, Md Nazir Ahmed s/o md Kayamuddin, Md Abdul Hashim alias Apik s/o (L) Md Iboyai, Md Zamir s/o Md Kadir and Md Ayub Khan s/o Haji Chaoba have been identified by the co-convenor as the injured locals in the commando assault.

The injuries ranged from legs, hands and head wounds.

As one of the family members raised an alarm, large number of people rushed to the spot to which the commandos fired in the air and fled away.

With the locals not letting up the chase, three of the commandos managed to speed away in the Maruti Gypsy while two were left behind and severely thrashed only to be rescued by a team of Lilong police station.

Various local bodies condemning the assault pledged support to the JAC in whatever course of agitation it would spearhead.

Meanwhile, the injured commando personnel have been identified as Leimapokpam Somendro of Thoubal Athokpam, a 3rd IRB Havildar attached to Thoubal police commando and Robindro Singh of Moirang Khunou, also a 3rd IRB rifleman attached to Thoubal police commando unit.

A police source maintained that based on specific information a commando team led by Somendro raided Sanayai's residence and as verification of some 3-4 individuals were being conducted one from the house ran out and raised an alarm soon resulting in a large number of people armed with harmful objects arriving at the spot and cornered the commando personnel.

As pre-emptive measure the commandos resorted to blank firing but to no avail as the mob began to attack two of the security personnel while three others managed to escape.

When another commando team reached the spot of incident, Havildar Somendro was found in an unconscious state with blind fold and both hands tied in Sanayai's courtyard with rifleman also found in similar serious condition inside the kitchen, the police source maintained.

Mobile phone handsets, money and two AK series rifles of both the commando personnel were found missing when the rescue team found them, the source informed while conveying that Somendro is still in critical condition at Shija Hospital.

The source further disclosed that both the Ak rifles have been recovered from a pond within Sanayai's residential compound even though two magazines and 60 rounds are yet to be found.

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