Locals foil abduction attempt, five hurt in firing
JAC serves Monday 2 pm deadline to arrest assailants, FB post likely cause of incident
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, October 15 2023:
At least five people including a woman and a minor were injured in shooting by unidentified assailants in an attempt to abduct a man on Saturday around midnight.
The incident occurred at Sega Road Konjeng Hazari Leikai.
Meanwhile, a JAC has been formed following a public meeting held at the locality on Sunday and submitted a memorandum to the chief minister with ultimatum to arrest the assailants by Monday 2 pm.
The injured have been identified as Phijam Leisemba alias Trilokchand (34) son of Tomei (gunshot wound on left leg), Priyananda Nongmaithem alias Tondon (43) son of late Mani (left leg), RK Medhabati (50) wife of Manao (left leg), and Nongmaithem Abelson (15) son of late Priyobrata (left hand), all residents of Konjeng Hazari Leikai, and Salam Priyojit alias Boicha (30) son of Tiken (buttock) of Sagolband Sayang Kurao Makhong.
Abelson has been admitted to RIMS hospital and the other four taken to Raj Medicity for treatment.
A public meeting was held at Sega Road Khwairakpam Leikai community hall in this regard on Sunday afternoon and a JAC was formed.
Later, addressing a press meet at the community hall, the JAC convenor Chongtham Iboyaima said that some unidentified masked men, in three four wheeler vehicles and a two-wheeler vehicle, came to the locality on Saturday around 10.30 pm and tried to abduct local resident Khaidem Bobo alias Seitajit (38) son of late Momon.
As a heated argument ensued between the masked men and the family members of Bobo, local people gathered to enquire about the commotion.
As the number of locals swelled, the unknown persons randomly fired several shots from their firearms and fled the place.
The local people managed to capture the scooter, NTorq 125 brought by the perpetrators.
Upon checking the documents, it was found that the vehicle belongs to Ningombam Ajitkumar son of Maipak of Brahmapur Laljilakpa Leikai.
The vehicle has been handed over to police intact, he said and added that identity of the masked assailants could be established by questioning the owner of the scooter.
He further said that the shell casings found at the site show that the firearms used by the unidentified assailants are 9 mm and .32 pistols, which have been subsequently seized by police.
Interestingly, civilians are not authorised to use 9 mm pistols and it shows possibility of involvement of some high-profile individuals, he added.
Iboyaima further said that the public meeting resolved to set a deadline of Monday 2 pm to arrest the assailants and demand the government to bear the treatment cost of the injured victims.
It also resolved to urge the home department to take up necessary measures to prevent such acts in future, failing which different forms of agitations would be launched in coordination with local clubs and Meira Pai-bi organisations along Tiddim Road.
A memorandum in this regard has also been submitted to the chief minister, he informed.
According to Bobo's wife Ranjana, her husband Bobo uploaded a post on Facebook a few days back.
In reaction to his post, former BJYM president Manoharmayum Barish Sharma along with some unknown people came to their house on Thursday and asked him to apologise for the post.
Consequently, her husband shared another post apologising for his earlier remark.
After that, some unidentified masked men came to their house on Saturday night and tried to take her husband away.
As there was some tussle and heated argument, people gathered and the masked assailants fired several rounds before fleeing, she said.
Later, on Sunday evening, local residents of the surrounding areas carried out a protest rally against the armed assailants and their unlawful activities.
The rally started from Sega Road Khwairakpam Leikai demanding the police to arrest the armed assailants and deliver justice to the victims.
Meanwhile, Keishamthong MLA Nishikant Sapam has strongly condemned the incident and urged the government and its authority concerned for swift investigation and booking the culprits involved in the incident.
In a statement, the MLA termed the incident as unfortunate and highly condemnable stating that the current situation in Manipur needs unification and not division or holding grudge against one another.
He also visited the injured victims at the hospital and extended financial support Keishamthong Thangjam Leirak Youth's Club also condemned the incident and demanded the government to arrest the culprits at the earliest.
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