4 injured in indiscriminate firing by MLA's escort, Cong office destroyed
Hemanta blames workers of opposite camp for the incident
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, October 01 2011: Four persons have been injured today in Wangjing Bazar in Thoubal District when local MLA and his security escort reportedly opened fire "indiscriminately" at a crowd which had gathered at the residence of ex-Councillor L Bijen, this morning.

Enraged people destroyed the Congress office.

According to police source, MLA Hemanta, at around 8 am this morning was in a meeting at the Congress office at Wangjing bazaar along with his workers in connection with the upcoming general election.

Then all of a sudden workers of Paonam Brojendro, who is one of the possible candidates of Wangjing Tentha, came to the spot and engaged in a verbal wrangling saying that no other candidate of Wangjing Tentha is allowed to enter the area.

Then things took an ugly turn when the workers of Paonam Brojendro started pelting stones at the Congress office.

Following which the escorts of MLA M Hemanta started firing in which four people were injured.

The injured persons have been identified as Maibam Ratana Devi (36), Langpoklakpa Dabayenti (43), Ajoy Kumar (27) and B Rishikanta Singh (21).Local sources however claimed that six persons were injured in the incident although two persons are unaccounted for.

Meanwhile, people of the locality said that, local MLA M Hemanta fired from his license gun at innocent civilians who had gone to inquire about development works in the assembly constituency such as community hall, sports complex, water supply scheme, etc., the completion of which are long overdue.

Newmai News Network reports that AK Chandra, an eye witness, said after the MLA opened fire, his security men began spraying live bullets and rubber bullets for over 24 minutes at the peaceful crowd.

Another eye witness said that the security personnel gun-butted and used physical force to control the crowd following the "indiscriminate" firing that injured four "innocent" civilians from the ensuing commotion and police brutality.

Nobody, however, got bullet injury although four persons were treated for minor injury at a private clinic near the incident site.

A joint action committee (JAC) has been formed by the people of Wangjing Lamding following the incident and submitted a memorandum to chief minister O Ibobi Singh seeking CBI investigation on the firing incident.

"It was at a great surprise that M Hemanta Singh, without giving any reasonable response, started firing at some innocent persons, which was followed by indiscriminate firing by his security guards," stated the memorandum of the JAC signed by its convenor Th.Rojen Singh, and sought a "legal action" against the MLA and "an appropriate inquiry under the supervision of CBI" .

Meanwhile, MLA M Hemanta has condemned the barbaric and uncivilized acts of a certain section of people who have been instigated by the intending candidate of Wangjing Tentha, Paonam Brojendro.

Addressing media persons at a press conference held at his quarter today, MLA Hemanta said that the incident took place when he was conducting a meeting at the house of ex Councillor L Bijen.

Some women workers of Paonam Brojendro came to the spot and started pelting stones.

The escorts fired some rounds and left the scene.

The act is the handy work of Paonam Brojendro.

They have also destroyed the congress office.

He further said that electors are free to cast their votes.

Restrictions on entering any area of the constituency for election campaign is an act which will only sow the seeds of hatred among the innocent people of the area.

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