Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, December 17 2008:
LILONG BAZAR, a marketing place in Thoubal district observed a total shut down Wednesday irk people over the assault of a local youth by Indian Reserved Battalion (IRB) personnel after allegedly snatching a cash amount of Rs.2000 this morning at around 7 am.
Reports said that IRB personnel on duty along the Indo-Myanmar beaten up a youth named Md Matabur (28) son Fazur Rehman of Tolenkhul located just near the market place on his way to Imphal this morning at around 7 am.
The youth is a salesman in a shop at Paona Bazar, Imphal.
Locals also alleged that the IRB men had also taken away Rs.2000 from his pocket after beaten him blue and black.
The youth who sustained severe injuries in the assault has been immediately evacuated at RIMS hospital, Imphal.
Hospital sources said his condition stable and out of danger.
On hearing the news of assault incident, locals of Tolenkhul and its neighbouring including residence of the Lilong Bazar converged at the marketing place and forced to close down all the shops in protest against the assault of local youths.
Locals are demanding immediate action to the IRB men involved in the assault of the youth by placing them under suspension from their services.
A public meeting was also held in the market place to consider on the future course of agitations.
It is pertinent to mention that IRB men deploying along the main entry points to Imphal to assist the police in maintaining law and order problems has been a matter of public concern as many complaints of harassing and taking money from the people mostly youths traveling with motorcycles come up.
The deployment of IRB personnel on these main roads date back to the spate of killing of non-local labourers allegedly by a group of undergrounds in June this year but the mode duty discharging by these arm security men become a question among the people.
"Whether they are deploying to safeguard the life of the people or sent out by the authority to loot, we can't understand," said an elderly man, a resident of Lilong Bazar who witnessed the incident while he was traveling in a passenger bus.
Even though police have the knowledge and have close vigilant on the development, no immediate comment from the IRB authority could be obtained for the time being.