Killing of Ranjita: Protestors try to storm PS, 15 hurt in police action
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Yairipok, August 04 2014:
In continuation of the protest over the killing of Lourembam Ongbi Ranjita of Yairipok Khoirom under Yairipok Police Station in Thoubal district, who was found murdered at her own paddy field at Kakmayai Mamang Loukol on August 2 night, a large number of protestors tried to storm Yairipok police station in the afternoon today.
In the subsequent police action of firing tear gas shells to control the mob fury, around 10 protestors sustained injuries.
Meanwhile, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) formed against the killing has been expanded and announced to intensify its agitation.
A large number of angry people from Yairipok Angtha, maternal home place of Ranjit, also blocked Imphal-Yairipok road since early morning today.
They also carried out publicity campaign and forced closure of all shops in Yairipok Bazaar.
When the angry protestors tried to proceed towards Yairipok Khoirom, police stopped them at Bamol Leikai, thus leading to a brief confrontation.
At that time, a large number of people also came to Yairipok Bazaar from Khoirom side and together they enforced road block and sat on a dharna in the middle of the road.
At around 3.30 pm, the angry protestors moved towards the Yairipok police station to demand handing over the alleged killers picked up by the police to them.
In order to control the situation from going out of hand, police resorted to firing tear gas shells and smoke bombs.
In all 15 protestors sustained injuries in the police action.
Among the injured, Kshetrimayum Gopen Singh (42) s/o Ksh Nikchai Singh of Yairipok Angtha Mayai Leikai and Kshetrimayum Basanti Devi (60) w/o late Mani Singh, also from the same locality, have been referred to RIMS after administering first aid at CHC Yairipok as their condition was serious while the rest discharged from CHC Yairipok as their condition was not so serious.
Though the post-mortem on Ranjit had been conducted at JNIMS yesterday, the corpse is still lying at the mortuary of the hospital as the JAC and the family members have refused to claim it until all the people involved in the killing are arrested and handed over to them.
Sit-in protest demonstrations against the killing were also witnessed along Yairipok-Chandrakhong Road today.
Along with including Meira Paibi members from Angtha, Kakmayai,Ningel, Universal Mother Organisation and Thoubal District United Women Development Organisation, the JAC has also been expanded for intensifying the ongoing agitation.