Imphal, Jul 1: The first death anniversary of Th Manorama is just a matter of a few days away (July 10/11), but Bamon Kampu in Imphal East, where the late woman hailed from, is again back in the news in yet another cruel twist of fate or co-incidence and the player is the same this time too- Assam Rifles, though from the 13th Bn.

The story this time is a bit different but it has all the potential to kick up a dirty ruckus again, as the Assam Rifles personnel have been accused of beating to death a civilian following the bomb attack on a convoy of the security personnel yesterday.

The deceased is identified as one Ahanthem Rameshwar (34) of Bamon Kampu Mayai Leikai.

Rameshwar was among five persons engaged for constructing the Litanpokpi Primary School building.

A colleague of Rameshwar, Hirom Robu (30) of Bamon Kampu Mayai Leikai, who was also severely beaten up by the Assam Rifles men and needed medical treatment recounted the ugly incident that occurred yesterday while talking to a group of newsmen today at his residence. Recalling the day, Robu said that they were working at the school site when they heard a loud bang at about 1.30 pm.

A short while later they heard the staccato of gun fire, said Robu and added that they saw the AR men stopping their firing from their work site.

Even as they resumed working with Rameshwor supervising the work at the upper portion of the school, about 20 AR men came to the school, said Robu.

The AR men then started asking questions to one of the labourers, identified as Nepali Deb and simultaneously started raining blows on him.

Rameshwar who was on a ladder was dragged down by the AR men and beaten severely, said Robu.

He was kicked and butted, said Robu and added that he was also slapped several times by the AR men.

After severely beating them, they were taken to Litanpokpi bazar, said Robu and added that they also saw the AR men beating up several men at the bazar.

All the men were then asked to line up in front of a shop and at that moment Rameshwar collapsed.

The AR said Rameshwar was faking and taunted him, said Robu and added that the AR men also refused to take Rameshwar to the hospital on being asked by the meira paibis to do so. Rameshwar was left behind while the others were herded towards the Imphal-Saikul road and asked to clear the road side.

Even as they were clearing the road side, they heard the news that Rameshwar had passed away suffering multiple injuries including a perfora- ted ear drum.

They also heard that Nepali Deb had suffered five broken teeth.

Chowkidar of the school, Thangjam Tomba said that when he tried to intervene and told the AR men that the labourers were innocent people, the AR men took him by the scruff os his neck and pinned him down.

The AR personnel also herded out all the people of the adjoining areas and after assembling them at Litan-pokpi bazar assaulted them indiscriminately, said the local people.

At least three people sustained grievous injuries in the beating.

A large number of meira paibis who tried to make their way to Bamon Kampu from Sagol-mang, Laipham, Pukhao, Ahallup, Naharup, Terapung, Litanpokpi, Sadhu Lampak etc were stopped by police commandos at Khurai Lamlong.

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