Villagers panic after shots fired
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, March 02 2022:
In what is suspected to be a post-poll incident, unknown miscreants on Tuesday fired in the air at Awang Ngairangbam Maning Leikai, leaving the villagers in a state of mass hysteria.
Strongly condemning the incident, the locals appealed to all concerned not to repeat such acts in future, while further urging authorities concerned to take up strict security measures.
Recounting the incident to media persons, the villagers conveyed that the unknown miscreants came to the village and blank-fired several rounds in front of a shop around 11pm on Tuesday, leaving the residents in panic.
They recalled that during the first phase of the polls on February 28, there were incidents of an EVM destroyed and fighting at Polling Station 1/20 in Sarouthel.
As voters of Awang Ngairangbam Maning Leikai had cast their votes at the said polling station, the villagers raised suspicion that the Tuesday's incident was related with the polls.
Urging the person(s) responsible to clarify the reason, the villagers said that even if a re-poll is to be conducted for the polling station, the voters cannot cast their votes amidst such a fearful atmosphere.
The villagers have taken a unanimous stand not to cast their votes if the government fails to take up strict safety measures.