Lai Haraoba devotees attacked near Aimol Satu
1 killed, 4 injured; Tension Escalates; 144 Crpc Clamped
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, May 05 2015 :
In an alarming incident, one devotee was killed and four others injured when unidentified miscreants opened fire at them during a religious Lai Haraoba procession on Tuesday night at Pallel Laikon Leikai in Chandel district.
The district administration promulgated Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) in the area banning assembly of people as tension escalated after the incident.
A devotee identified as Moirangthem Gopal (43), son of Late Gourachandra fromPalel Mayai Leikai succumbed to bullet injuries on his head while being shifted to Military Hospital located at Kakching by 26 Assam Rifles (AR) .
The four injured in the firing include T Herojit (30), son of Bharat from Palel Mayai Leikai; Y Bhim (21), son of Naobi from Palel Bazar; M Chingkhei (20), son of Rajen from Palel Mamang Leikai and Sarangthem Turkey alias Nadal (18), son of Birani from Palel Mayai Leikai.
The four of them were admitted to Jeevan Hospital, Kakching.
Later, three of them � Herojit, Chingkhei and Turkey have been rushed to a hospital in Imphal till the filing of this report.
After the incident, the angry devotees stormed and pelted stones at the police station in Pallel protesting against lack of security measures.
In the attack, an Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) identified as N Rajmani (27) also sustained head injuries.
One sentry tower was torched.
Police fired several rounds in the air to disperse and control the crowd.
Reports said that the devotees were observing a prayer of the forest dwelling gods, Nongpok Ningthou and Sekmai Ningthou in Pallel.
Carrying the statues of the forest gods, they had gone on a procession near the Aimol Satu Village hillock nearby.
The devotees were performing the religious ritual festival when the unidentified persons opened fire with double barrel guns.
Additional police and paramilitary forces and high police officials rushed to the spot to assess the situation.
Police claimed that the situation is tense but under full control.