8 hurt in post poll violence, pvt office set ablaze
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 24 2015: At least eight persons have been injured when some persons opened fire in the course of a post poll violence at Khongman within Thongju AC at around 3.30 pm today.

Subsequently, office of a private firm and a house of the firm's proprietor were set blaze by a mob.

According to information culled from the spot, supporters of BJP candidate Th Bishwajit were taking out a rally in a convoy of vehicles after he was declared elected from Thongju AC.

As the convoy approached the office of UNACCO, a group of people attacked some motorcycle borne supporters of the BJP candidate with hockey sticks thereby inflicting injuries to some of them.

The assailants ran towards UNACCO office and they were chased by a group of people who were taking part in the victory procession.

But before they could lay their hands on the attackers, the gate of UNACCO office closed.

8 hurt in post poll violence, pvt office set ablaze

As they were chasing the assailants, some other people started opening fire from the UNACCO Tower.

The gun shots enraged the crowd and some of them started pelting stones at the UNACCO office.

Those inside the UNACCO tower retaliated by opening fire more rapidly.

This led to an intense confrontation between the two sides and five persons were injured by bullets.

The wounded people have been identified as Sapam Suraj (28) s/o late Achou of Ningomthongjao, Oinam Kaiku alias Alex (26) s/o Ranjana of Ningomthongjao, Wangkhem Kulladhaja (18) s/o Ina of Ningomthongjao, Ningombam Subhash (27) s/o late Ranjit of Khongman Zone I and Ningombam Ichaoba alias Sanjoy (28) s/o Bhogendro of Ningomthongjao.

While the first four persons have been taken to Advanced Hospital and Research Institute, the fifth victim is undergoing treatment at JNIMS.

Moirangthem Sanajaoba (27) s/o late Ranjit of Khongman Zone 4 Atom Leirak, Konjengbam Santosh (19) s/o Dhananjoy of Kongba Nandeibam Leikai , Ningombam Santosh (19) s/o Tomba of Khongman Zone 4 Atom Leirak too sustained injuries as they were hit by flying stones.

The three were also taken to JNIMS.

In the meantime, a large mob set ablaze UNACCO Tower as well as the houses of UNACCO proprietor Ningombam Irabanta and his elder brother.

Three cars were also burnt.

At first, police could not control the mob.

It was only after several hours that police could somehow bring the situation under control.

Nonetheless, fire tenders were given free passage as the raging fire started spreading to neighbouring houses.

It is reported that the mob left UNACCO school unscathed.

Nonetheless, parents of many students who have been staying in the school's hostel have taken home their children.

But students belonging to far off places are still confined in the hostel.

With the arrival of top ranking police officials, adequate security forces have been deployed in the area.

It is reported that one full company of police personnel would be deployed in the area.