Scribe on duty killed in police firing, Imphal burns
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 23 2012: A correspondent of a regional television news channel has been killed today when police fired live rounds to disperse agitators at the foothills of Cheiraoching hill-range in Sinam Leikai area of Thangmeiband Assembly Constituency.

The deceased scribe is one Thangjam Dwijamani alias Nanao (32) s/o (L) Th Babu of Thangmeiband Sinam Leikai who was a stringer of Doordarshan Kendra, Imphal formerly Imphal correspondent of Guwahati-based Prime Time television news channel.

Dwijamani is survived by his wife, a son and an infant daughter.

His body bore three bullet injuries, at the chest, right leg and right wrist.

There are also report about continuous road blockades and damage caused to a number of vehicles for allegedly defying the bandh call while police teams and an MLA escorted stranded people to safer zones.

The Cheiraoching incident occurred at around 1.30 pm today when a large number of Thangmeiband locals were enforcing the ongoing indefinite bandh call given by several organisations to demand arrest of self styled Lt Col Livingstone anal of the NSCN (IM) for his involvement in molesting and assaulting a manipuri film actress and opening fire at two of her male colleagues who tried to intervene during a musical concert at Chandel district on December 18 .

A policeman fires a tear gas shell ; Chief Minister O Ibobi makes a point during a meeting with scribes and the tata DI truck set aflame

The indefinite bandh is being observed since December 21 midnight and has so far caused damages to a number of vehicles besides injuries suffered by scores of bandh supporters in police crackdown.

With regard to the death of Dwijamani, video footage (cassette) recovered by a close relative and handed over to the journalist fraternity clearly established that he fell to live rounds fired by a police personnel, who was part of a security team apparently assigned to escort a stranded group of people.

According to sources, the Sinam Leikai locals on getting information about the police team trying to escort some people opposed the move and consequently waylaid the path as the escort team tried to force through the road blockade.

In the video footage, the agitators could be seen over-numbering the police personnel, who fled the scene leaving the stranded people, including women and children, in a Tata 407 (Mini truck), reportedly belonging to Lamphel police station.

As the occupants started to jump out of the vehicle the agitators began to stone the mini truck with some others pouring inflammable liquid items and setting it afire.

The same video footage also showed a few agitators trying to manhandle the fleeing vehicle occupants, a move opposed by some of the agitators who could be heard shouting not to target the people but enforce the bandh by torching the vehicle.

As the vehicle started to burn, Dwijamani's camera filmed police personnel approaching the burning vehicle from the rear side and firing live rounds towards the mob.

In one such firing, Dwijamani, seemingly capturing the unfolding scene from the roadside, was hit as was evident from the camera losing its focus.

Even though the injured scribe was taken to RIMS Hospital, Dwijamani failed to respond to treatment as the bullet wound on the chest apparently proved to be a fatal one.

While there was confusion at the Hospital on who had actually taken out the video camera cassette as the journalist fraternity were convinced that it would certainly contain vital clues on circumstances leading to the dead of Dwijamani, there were cheers on getting information that one of his relatives had taken out the cassette for safekeeping.

With the journalists viewing the scenes captured by Dwijamani till his final moments at a hurriedly convened meeting at Manipur Press Club the real picture emerged about the DDK stringer falling victim to a trigger-happy Manipur police personnel.

A brief condolence meeting was also held on the journalist fraternity losing yet another one of its members as his colleagues hailed Dwijamani for putting his own life at risk to expose brute force applied by the Government to crack down civil unrest.

It is also pertinent to add that protest demonstration had been gripping New Delhi for the past two days against the gang-rape and brutal assault of a para-medical student but till date there is no report of security forces firing live rounds to restore calm in the national capital.

here in the State, police forces led by Imphal East district SP escorted over 30 passenger carriers (buses) and private vehicles towards Ukhrul district.

While bandh enforcers partially damaged one of the buses at Lamlai area the others managed to cross the road blockades.

According to sources, about 300 people headed for Ukhrul district are taking shelter at Lamlai police station till late evening.

On the Imphal-Jiribam route, Patsoi AC representative AK Mirabai devi, who is also the Social Welfare Minister reportedly arranged vehicles and security escort party for safe transportation of stranded people.

Those stranded on their way to Tamenglong district were safely escorted upto Keithelmanbi, the sources said.

Meanwhile, suspected bandh supporters set on fire office of the SDC, Heingang circle located at Laipham Khunou Yangdong at around 1 pm today.

The office suffered partial damage, as locals came out to douse the blaze.

In other bandh-related incidents today, a passenger carrier (bus) was set on fire at near Ngairangbam village under Patsoi police station after the occupants were asked to descend while a private jeep, maruti Van and a Maruti 800 car were torched at lamlong, Andro Parking (Wangkhei) and Tharoijam (Lamsang) areas respectively.

At around midnight yesterday, a Jeep (MN05/A0941) was set ablaze by bandh supporters at near Khurai Salanthong area.

In thoubal district, bandh supporters put up road blockades at Yairipok and Pallel areas while in Bishnupur district road blocks dotted the Tiddim Line at nambol and Moirang Lamkhai areas.

Business establishments also remain shut for the second consecutive day in Thoubal district areas.

Meanwhile, police fired mock bombs at different sections of Tiddim Line till late evening today.