Miscreants held for starting wild fire
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 05 2011: Three miscreants who reportedly attempted to kill people by starting a wild fire within the premises of Ibudhou Pakhangba at Heingang Hannabaching in Imphal East district while many people were celebrating Sajibu Cheiraoba rituals have been apprehended by police.

As a large number of people were performing Cheiroaba rituals and Thabal Chongba, a roaring wild fire engulfed Hannabaching at about 3.30 pm yesterday.

As the people ran helter-skelter, many people including women and children sustained injuries.

However, Heingang people managed to nab four persons suspected to be involved in igniting the wild fire.

Acting on their disclosure, three other persons were pulled up.

Later, all seven of them were handed over to Heingang police station along with a written report.

The three persons pulled up afterwards were found responsible for igniting the wild fire.

They have been identified as Md Sandha Khan (19) s/o Ibosana of Khabeisoi Khunung Karong, Md Chera Ali (18) s/o late Rashin Ali of Heikrumakhong Sorok Mapal and Md Sana (20) s/o late Ishup Ali of the same locality.

However, the four persons nabbed earlier were found innocent and they were released unharmed.

An FIR has been registered against the three arrested persons and they have been charged under IPC Sections 296/440/341 .

Following yesterday's incident, an action committee comprising 200 members have been constituted after a meeting held at Heingang.

Noting that the act of igniting wild fire was not only aimed at sabotaging the Cheiraoba rituals which were being performed for the last many years but also had the intention of killing people as if it was a jihad, the meeting strongly denounced the act of igniting the wild fire.

Meanwhile, a press release issued by the Laining Koloi Awang Marjing Chingtampak Pakhangba Ethup Pathek Ahum Nongdam Shanglen noted that it was the eighth attack on the sacred premises of Ibudhou, all of which smacked of blasphemy, disrespect and challenge to the people.

It has been exposed that the attack of May 9, 2009 which pulverised the sacred spot of Ibudhou was done by some Muslims.

Saying that written files have been lodged at Forest Department, the DGP and the Imphal East DC to drive out encroachers making settlements around Hannabaching, it lamented that the Government has been sleeping over the matter as if waiting for a communal conflict.

It is reported that another public meeting would be held tomorrow afternoon at Heingnang Kangjeibung in connection with the incident.

It also invited civil organisations of the State to attend the meeting.

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