AR nabs 'IM' man, Tamenglong tense
AK-47 rifle snatched from Assam Rifles personnel
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, March 13 2011: People in Tamenglong district HQs rose up and stormed an Assam Rifles post there in protest against the nabbing of NSCN (IM)'s joint secretary (finance in-charge) by troops of 11 Assam Rifles this evening.

The chaos situation, unknown persons reportedly snatched away one AK-47 rifle from a body guard of a medical officer of the 11 AR at the very post where the crowd had surged, our Tamenglong Correspondent, Daniel Kamei informs.

He said that some protestors including a reporter of the local vernacular, Dilcham, Gaichumei Panmei sustained injuries when the security forces went about to disperse the protesting people.

Despite the efforts of the AR personnel to quell the protest, the protestors remained seated nearby the post till late tonight.

Troops of Assam Rifles under Red Shield Division nabbed NSCN (IM) leader, Jorge (32) today around 4.30 pm.

It is widely believed that he is involved in extortion of money from the general public and government officials in the district.

When the news of his arrest came to be known, around 100 people from different places of the district HQs went to the AR post and staged a protest in front of the post, demanding the unconditional release of the rebel leader.

When no positive response came from the AR, protestors started stoning the AR post.

AR personnel, then, came out of the post and baton charged the protestors.

In the caning , some protestors including women sustained injuries.

While the situation became tense, some unidentified persons snatched one AK-47 rifle from a personnel of the AR who was guarding a medical officer on his way back from the Tamenglong Indoor Stadium.

The incident took place near the protest site.

AR personnel along with Tamenglong police immediately launched a search, in and around the district HQs, to find the snatched armed.

There were no reports of recovery of the arm till the time of filing this report.

Additional District Magistrate, Joseph Pounin who arrived at the protest site tried to convince the protestors to produce the missing arm.

No consensus could be arrived at in the talks between the protestors and the AR authority.

Protestors insisted that the NSCN-IM leader is innocent.

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