Moreh teen hurt in cross border firing
Tension grips border town, indefinite bandh on, emergency meet held
Source: The Sangai Express

Moreh/Imphal, December 26 2011: Tension continues to grip Moreh town when a security personnel from Myanmar opened fire from across the border on December 25 injuring a teenager at Moreh.

The matter has already been brought up with the neighbouring country, but tension continues to simmer on the side of the border town of Moreh.

Denouncing the firing that injured one Md Abdul noor (16) of Moreh Ward No 5 Muslim Nagar on the left thigh, civil society organisations of the border town have declared closure of the market places and called an indefinite bandh till the issue is settled amicably.

Information received here suggests that Abdul Noor and his friends were playing football at a playground on the Indian side but located very close to the international boundary when a shot was fired from across the border.

Even as the source of the firing was subsequently identified to have originated from one of the Myanmarese military sentries deployed at Namphalong Market across the border, authorities of both the neighbouring countries shut the gates on either side thereby halting commercial activities.

While commercial activities gradually came to a grinding halt, agitated youths of Muslim Nagar asked Myanmar nationals plying their trades on the indian side to leave immediately, said an informed source.

The incident resulted in an emergency meeting today morning wherein representatives of various communities settled in the border town approved observance of bandh, including halting of transport activities on the Imphal-Moreh route of National Highway-39 .

The meeting was attended by representatives of Meetei Council Moreh, Hill Tribal Council, All Community Development Organisation, Tamil Sangam Moreh, Gorkha Samaj Samiti Moreh and Manipuri Muslim Council Moreh.

Inspite of SDPO Moreh M Rameswar Inspite of SDPO Moreh M Rameswar personally urging the Muslim populace to cooperate in restoring normalcy in the border womenfolk came out to the streets to enforce the bandh.

In connection with the firing incident, authorities of 31 Assam Rifles, Manipur police and Myanmar had a joint meeting during which Myanmar authorities conceded that one of their security personnel fired accidentally.

Myanmar's 266 Bn CO Tit Moung reportedly tendered an apology.

Moments after the firing incident and closure of Gate No 2, teams of Moreh police station asked Myanmar nationals stranded on the indian side to assemble at the police station after which troops of 31 Assam Rifles escorted them safely through Gate No.2 .

It is said that during a meeting held at the AR post in the presence of Moreh police station OC, relatives of the inured Abdul Noor and Manipuri Muslim Council representatives, Myanmar military authorities tendered an apology.

There is, however, no information of the Myanmar side offering any form of assistance in the treatment of the injured boy.

According to a statement issued by PRO IGAR (S), an emergency meeting was held between Myanmar Army and civil adminstration officials during which the Myanmar army stated that the firing took place due to the accidental discharge of a personal weapon by one of their soldiers.

Myanmar Army apologised about the incident and informed that necessary action is being initiated against the soldier, the PRO added.

After first aid by medical personnel of 31 Assam rifles of 26 Sector, Abdul Noor has been brought here for further treatment.

The teenage boy is informed to have been admitted at Shija Hospitals, Langol.

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