Imphal, July 17: Most of the tear gas canisters used by the police personnel to disperse angry protestors against custodial killing of Th Manorama by 17 Assam Rifles personnel were said to have crossed expiry date.

The Sangai Express staff reporters who have covered the events over the past two days at different parts of the State came across many of the canisters fired by the police not releasing gases.

On closer examination of the miss-fired canisters, it was found out that potential of the canisters have already been expired.

Most of the tear gas shells used by Manipur Police commandos against the angry protestors in front of Manipur University Gate at Canchipur this morning had expired by November 2003 and March 2004.On the empty shells collected from the site it was written Lot No-23, date of manufacture - March 2001, Date of Expiry - March 2004 and Lot No-28, Date of Manufacture Nov 2000, Date of Expiry-Nov 2003.These canisters manufactured by TSU, BSF, Tekanpur (India) could be fired to a distance of 10 metres.

According to informed sources, the police personnel who were literary locked in a pitched battle with protestors at Khongba Bazar yesterday were short of tear gas shells and rubber bullets and had to ask for more.

As the tear gas canisters ran out of stock, the expired ones have been used.

However, ADGP (Law and Order) C Peter asserted that there is adequate tear gas shells and rubber bullets stock with State Police Department.

He also said use of expired tear gas shells to scare away protestors was not within his knowledge.

DIG (Hqs) LM Khoute, however, said that all the tear gas shells have been procured earlier and remaining stocks in every unit have been collected for use.

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