Relief camp assailants will be booked: MLA Joykisan
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, May 15 2024:
Thangmeiband MLA Kh Joykisan has asserted that those responsible for attacking residents of the relief camp set up at Thangmeiband Khoyathong Tombisana High School on May 8 evening and causing destruction to properties of the internally displaced persons staying in the camp will be booked and punished as per the law of the land.
Addressing media persons the May 8 incident at his Khoyathong residence, here, on Wednesday, Joykisan said that a group of miscreants armed with clubs and iron rods vandalised rooms, one car and assaulted some residents of the relief camp on May 8 evening.
Prior to the incident, a water tanker truck came to deliver water for the camp residents around 2 pm but could not access the camp as three cars parked at the entrance blocked the passage.
Relief camp volunteers informed about the situation to a functionary of the nearby Rising Knowledge Club and tried to locate owners of the cars.
They also enquired the nearby shops and houses about the owners of the cars but could not find them subsequently resulting in the tanker to return without offloading the water.
The tanker returned around 5 pm but the said cars remained stationary at the same spot.
As they could not find the owners of the cars in their second attempt too, the volunteers deflated the tyres with the hope of talking with the car owners when they came.
At about 8.30 pm, a person came out and insisted on identifying those who deflated the car tyres, Joyki san said, adding that the person was called inside the relief camp for holding talks.
As the person turned aggressive, a camp resident slapped the person twice on his face.
Amid the commotion, elder brother of the person showed up and advised him to convince his younger brother for sorting out the matter the next day.
"Shortly after they left, around 10 people armed with clubs and iron rods barged into the relief camp and assaulted the resident who slapped the person.
As they refused to calm down despite attempt to defuse the situation, I asked my escorts to fire some rounds in air, which the security personnel complied with.
Amid the melee, the group led by the two brothers smashed the windshield and body of a car belonging to a resident of the relief camp, which was parked in the compound.
Immediately, SP Imphal West was informed about the tense situation," Joykisan said, adding that 14 children residing at the relief camp lost consciousness due to the violent situation and were rushed to RIMS hospital for treatment.