Thoubal tense, vehicles vandalized
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 08 2015 :
In connection with the burning of houses belonging to three suspects by a mob from Heirok after Ningthoujam Rebika was found murdered, a tense situation has been brewing between the neighbouring villages of Heirok and Wangjing in Thoubal district on the ground that houses of two innocent men were also burnt.
Even as Thoubal police arrived in time and managed to keep the situation under control, a car and three escort vehicles of Minister Okendro were vandalized by an irate mob of Heirok.
At around 8 am today, some people of Wangjing went on a publicity round informing people that two of the houses burnt by a mob from Heirok belonged to innocent people and that a public meeting would be held on the matter at Wangjing Hodamba ground.
They also blocked the road leading to Heirok from Wangjing.
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Soon after, a large number of Heirok people came out to the road and started driving away those people who were blocking the road.
This sparked a tense stand-off between the two neighbouring villages.
Immediately, a large police team including commandos arrived at the scene and somehow managed to drive back the two groups to their respective villages.
But they had to fire several rounds of shots, tear gas shells and rubber bullets in the air before they could bring the situation under control.
Some police personnel sustained minor injuries as they were hit by stones pelted from the direction of Heirok.
Sometime later, both Heirok A/C MLA M Okendro and Wangjing-Tentha A/C MLA P Brojen arrived at the scene in a bid to pacify the two agitated groups.
Even as Education Minister and local MLA Okendro raised his hand in the direction of the site where the Heirok people were gathered signalling that he was there to discuss the issue, the mob responded by pelting stones.
Immediately, both Okendro and Brojen left the scene.
M Okendro made another attempt to talk with the people of Heirok by taking another route from Heirok Heituppokpi via Wangjing Tekcham Leikai.
However, instead of responding to the Minister's attempt to discuss the issue peacefully, the mob vandalized and tried to impound the Minister's car and three other vehicles belonging to his security escorts.
Seeing the hostile reacting, the Minister and his team retreated immediately.
Later, Thoubal SP K Radhashyam, DIG Ibomcha and Addl SP Madhunimai came to the spot.
Though no major untoward incident has been reported so far, a tense situation has gripped the two neighbouring villages.
Some members of the JAC constituted in connection with the murder of Rebika said that today's confrontation was a result of misunderstanding.
They also conveyed their gratitude to police for their timely intervention.