Anti drug vigilantes allegedly beat 62 year old man to death
Scribe covering mob rampage attacked
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 07 2019: A reporter of Echel Express was attacked by an angry mob for taking photographs and covering the situation while they were dismantling the house belonging to one Md Ajimuddin, president of Antidrug Joint Committee (Kairang), at Kairang Umang Leikai today.

The mob had been out for blood after a supposed drug peddler who was picked up from his residence by members of Anti-Drug Joint Committee, succumbed to the alleged torture and beatings by the members of the committee.

According to information gathered from the spot, the deceased, identified as Md Helim (62) s/o (L) Abdul Masjid of Kairang Khumidok Umang Leikai, was apprehended by volunteers and leaders of the Anti Drug Joint Committee from his residence on charge of selling drugs from his residence at around 10 last night.

However, instead of taking Helim to the office, he was allegedly taken to the foothills of Heingang hills and brutally assaulted by the volunteers and leaders of the association resulting in his death.

The locals further alleged that only after Helim died, his body was handed over to Heingang PS.

Anti drug vigilantes allegedly beat 62 year old man to death

The people explained that soon after the news about Helim's death spread, angry locals of Khumidok, Kairang as well as family members of the deceased, gathered in front of the Anti Drug Joint Committee office located at Kairang Mamang Leikai and began dismantling and burning down the office.

The mob then headed for the residence of the committee's president identified as Md Ajimuddin alias Ibohal (51) s/o Md Abdul Hadi of Kairang Umang Leikai.

The people claimed that when the mob reached the entrance gate of the residence, Md Ajimuddin fired some rounds from a double bored gun which angered the mob.

The mob went out of control and stormed the house and started vandalising the household properties, including the vehicles parked inside the residential compound.

A team of Imphal EAst police commandos arrived at the spot and took Md Ajimuddin into custody and whisked him away from the site in a hurry.

The situation took an ugly turn when the mob began attacking a reporter of Echel Express, crime reporter Wahengbam Bikram Meitei, who was covering the incident and taking photos, despite having identified himself as a media person by showing the ID card issued by DIPR.

The mob snatched his camera and attacked him with sticks and other objects, apart from hurling abusive words.

Finally a team of Imphal East district police led by SDPO Porompat, L Shankerjeet arrived to quell the situation, but in the subsequent stand off that followed the SDPO sustained injuries.

Eventually, the angry mob tried to storm the residence of other members of the committee located at different parts of Kairang village but was prevented from advancing any further by police who fired several tears gas shells and live rounds in the air to disperse the mob.

To prevent any further kind of unwanted incidents, a large number of Imphal East district police commando personnel, IRB and MR personnel have been deployed in the area.

On the other hand, All Manipur Working Journalists Union (AMWJU), has vehemently condemned the attack on the reporter.

A press release issued by the union today conveyed that an emergency meeting of AMWJU standing committee was held and the meeting unanimously condemned the incident, apart from demanding the authority concerned to take up necessary action against the involved parties as per the law.

The union expressed gratitude and lauded SDPO Porompat L Shankerjeet and the police personnel of Imphal East for their timely intervention and for bringing the situation under control thus saving the journalist from greater harm.

AMWJU then urged the people to refrain from such actions in the future and not to obstruct journalists from carrying out their duties.

On the other hand, eight members of the Anti Drug Joint Committee, including its president were remanded to seven days in police custody (till June 13) after they were produced before the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal East, in connection with the death Md Helim.

The remanded individuals have been identified as committee president Md Ajimuddin alias Ibohal (51) s/o Md Abdul Hadi of Kairang Umang Leikai, Md Achou (43) s/o Md Tomba of Kairang Awang Leikai, Md Wahijuddin Shah (30) s/o (L) Md Jalal of Kairang Litan Makhong, Md Ibosana (35) s/o Md Masamuddin of Kairang Mayai Leikai, Md Tarik (27) s/o Md Anwar of Kairang Awang Leikai, Muhamad Ibungo (27) s/o (L) Md Abdula of Kairang Chingya, Md Banda (25) s/o (L) Md Rahimuddin of Khumidok Jama Masjid Maning and Md Takbir Shah (20) s/o Mahumad of Khumidok Masjid Maning.