Son dies, father hurt in poll violence in Heirok AC
Source: Chronicle News Service

Thoubal, December 22 2021: Election related violence in Heirok reached its peak on Tuesday night when stone pelting followed by exchange of firing between workers of two intending candidates led to loss of life of teenager and left his father seriously injured.

Heirok assembly constituency has been witnessing election related violence since the past three/four months and Tuesday night's violence was the worse one.

The latest skirmishes also left several other people injured while household items and four vehicles including four-wheelers were damaged beyond repair.

On the other hand, locals blocked Heirok road from Wednesday morning in protest against Tuesday night's violent incident.

As precautionary measures to prevent further violence, a large team of police and BSF has been deployed in Heirok.

DIG Range II, SP, additional SP and other top level police officers of Thoubal district police are currently stationed in Heirok.

The teenager killed in the violence has been identified as Ningthoujam Rohit (17) son of Ningthoujam Premchandra of Heirok Part 2 Mayai Leikai.

Rohit was a BA 3rd semester student at Thoubal College.

Rohit's father Premchandra too sustained bullet injury in the incident and he is currently undergoing treatment at Raj Medicity, Imphal.

As per report prepared by Thoubal SP Jogeshchandra Haobijam, workers of two political parties engaged in an intense stone pelting incident at about 9pm in Heirok Part 2 Mayai Leikai where offices of intending candidates of the two parties are opened.

One person was injured in the stone pelting incident.

As follow up to stone pelting, workers of a political party camouflaged themselves to hide their identity and.armed with guns intruded into Rohit's house and started searching for his elder brother Roshan.

In the ensuing melee, the armed men shot at Rohit and his father and Rohit died later.

As per local sources, three other people were also injured in the Tuesday night's incident and they are identified as Thokchom Amarjit (35) of Heirok Tourangbam Leikai, Thokchom Amuba (44) of Heirok Sati Khongnang Leirak and Ningthoujam Rajen (65) of Heirok Part 2, Champrathong.

All of them have been discharged after giving first aid at nearby hospital.

On the other hand, large number of people staged sit-in-protest blocking road in Heirok Part 2 Mayai Leikai from early Wednesday morning in protest against the Tuesday's violence.

The protestors raised several slogans and demanded justice for Rohit.

The protestors then took out a rally from Heirok Mayai Leikai till Heirok gate in Heirok Part 1 and also removed flags of a political party and destroyed one camp of the same party.

According to late Rohit's second brother N Rahen, he and his brother Roshan were standing on the terrace of their house when the armed men intruded into their house and started dismantling the fencing.

While hiding at the terrace, the armed men fired towards Rohit who was standing near toilet, he said and urged government to book culprits involved in the firing and bring justice.

Injured Thokchom Amarjit said that he was telephoned by Roshan to take injured Rohit and father Premchandra to hospital.

However, some men thrashed him badly at Champrathong while riding a two-wheeler towards Rohit's house, he said and demanded to know reason for attacking him.

Injured Ningthoujam Rajen also said that he was beaten when he tried to intervene armed men's action against teenager Rohit and claimed that two younger brothers of the local MLA were among the armed men.

Injured Thokchom Amuba said that he is a teacher at Springfield English School, Wang-jing and he was beaten by some men while he was on his way home from a tuition centre for being suspicious of a Congress worker.

Action Development Committee president Moirangthem Gambini, who took part in the protest held at Heirok Part 2 Mayai Leikai, told media persons that government should immediately arrest those involved in the killing of Rohit and punish them according to law.

She also appealed to government to take up immediate measures to bring peace and stop unwanted incidents in Heirok.

On the other hand, one Mema and Bimolata of another party told media persons that some unidentified people armed with dangerous tools came to their house at about 1.30 am on Wednesday and damaged four vehicles and several household items.

The unidentified men also looted around Rs 10 lakh kept for running brickfield.

In the last few months, the poll Violence at the Heirok assembly constituency has risen as masked men continue to terrorise families and election campaigner.

Many individuals' houses have been ransacked, women have been assaulted, a journalist had been beaten up and the situation continued to rise.

However, Rohit is the first person to be killed concerning the upcoming assembly elections.

It may be mentioned that incumbent BJP MLA, Th Radheshyam and his Congress opponent Moirangthem Okendro; are in a straight fight for the seat.

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