Imphal, December 23 2009: At least three women protesters have been injured in a firing attack by cadres of the KNF (P) while two 'alleged cadres' of the same outfit have been hacked to death by infuriated villagers of Nongbrang yesterday.

However claims have been raised that the two victims were innocent students, who had recently returned home from Shillong.

Nongbrang womenfolk were staging a protest demonstration against monetary demand served to them by KNF (P) which incidentally is a signatory of the Suspension of Operation (SoO) pact with both the State and Central Governments.

As the womenfolk were blocking the Yairipok-Nongpok Keithelmanbi road since morning followed by a public meeting near Nongbrang community hall, about 12 kms North of Yairipok police station in Imphal East district yesterday, one Maruti van and a mini truck coming from Yairipok side were stopped.

Shortly after, around 20 cadres of KNF (P) including 10 armed cadres clad in combat fatigue arrived at the spot and asked why the road was being blocked.

The next moment, the armed cadres opened fire towards the unarmed women protesters.

The firing caused bullet injuries to Pukhrihongbam Memcha (40) of Nongbrang Mayai Leikai, Nameirakpam Maloti (40) of Nongbrang Awang Leikai and Akoijam Mema (40) of the same locality.

Memcha sustained injuries on the right thigh and leg.

Her condition is said to be serious.

She is undergoing treatment in Shija Hospital.

Enraged over the assault and resulting injuries to the three women, the villagers ran out in unison and chased the KNF (P) cadres with weapons like clubs, swords etc in their hands.

At this moment, the two vehicles stopped by the womenfolk drove away towards Keithelmanbi.

The KNF (P) cadres also ran away towards Keithelmanbi, firing in the air as they ran.

But the mob could catch two cadres.

The enraged mob hacked them to dead at Leirongthel agricultural fields.

The villagers said that the armed cadres were all staying at Bongbal Khullen across Keithelmanbi barrage.

One individual who came to the place of incident was detained by the crowd but was freed later.

At about 7.30 pm of December 20, some KNF (P) cadres came to Nongbrang and demanded that each grocery shop of the village should give them two bags of dal, one bag of potato and one tin of cooking oil.

Accusing one shopkeeper of deliberately closing the shop at their arrival, the KNF (P) smashed the door of the shop.

They also kicked the woman shopkeeper.

Truck owners of the village engaged in transportation of sand were also asked to give Rs 3000 each.

The same outfit made a similar demand of Rs 3000 each from all passenger auto-rickshaw owners and sand quarry owners.

In addition to these multiple demands made to people occupying different professions, the KNF (P) prohibited even keeping big dogs.

They threatened to shoot and kill big dogs if they see one, conveyed one villager.

Unable to bear all these burdens and harassments, the village womenfolk undertook a protest demonstration today.

Fearful of revenge strike by the Kuki militant group, Nongbrang villagers have fled away from their homesteads following today's incident.

The villagers, particularly women and children, are now taking shelter at the relief camp opened at the residence of MLA Th Shyamkumar at Yairipok.

Some other villagers are taking refuge at the homes of their relatives.

On the other hand, there was an exchange of fire for about 10 minutes between IRB jawans and KNF (P) cadres near Keithelmanbi Dam at about 4.15 pm yesterday.

The two suspected KNF (P) cadres killed by the enraged mob have been identified as Paosat Kipgen (25) s/o Lhunkhojan of Bongbal Khullen and Paolen Chongloi (25) s/o Chongkhothang of Keithelmanbi Military Colony.

However, Lhunkhojan maintained that the duo were students studying at Shillong besides being functionaries of KSO Shillong branch.

They came to Keithelmanbi from Shillong on December 19 .

Then they came to Old Lambulane on December 21 and put up the night there.

They came to Yairipok from Imphal yesterday.

At Yairipok, they reserved an auto-rickshaw and headed for Paosat's home at Bongbal Khullen to celebrate Christmas there.

They might have come across yesterday's incident on their way to Bongbal Khullen, Lhunkhojan said.

Meanwhile, decrying the killing of Paosat Kipgen and Paolen Chongloi, NH 39 has been blocked between Motbung and Kangpokpi since this morning.

Following the blockade, a number of vehicles have been stranded on both sides of the highway.

On the other hand, a JAC has been constituted by the villagers of Nungaipokpi, Tumukhong, Itham and Nongbrang in the aftermath of yesterday's incident.

It is reported that all these villages have been reeling under the frequent monetary demands of KNF (P).

Later in the evening that a team of the JAC may called on Chief Minister Okram Ibobi and gave a detail account of yesterday's incident.

They also submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister.

In response, Ibobi assured that he would look into the demands of the JAC at the earliest.

A spokesperson of the JAC said they would be urging upon the Chief Minister to restrict KNF (P) cadres to their designated camps, avert such unwanted incidents in future, open posts of state security force at Nongbrang and Itham and another one at Nungaipokpi, if possible as well as extension of financial assistance to the injured victims.

The KNF (P) cadres now staying at Bongbal Khullen were the same group who severely thrashed two villagers of neighbouring Keihao village for delivering meals late on July 27 this year.

Earlier in March, Keihao Pastor was beaten up by the same group.

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