Wabagai, July 02: Personnel of the 16th Assam Rifles, who were attacked by unidentified underground activists yesterday afternoon at Wabagai Lamkhai bazar went on the rampage in its aftermath, as a result of which one person died and scores of others were injured.

According to local residents, following the attack on the troops, in which four personnel were reportedly wounded, people from all over the area, including women and children as well as the elderly, were made to lie down on the street amidst the mud and slush and beaten and kicked for nearly four hours till the arrival of high ranking police officials.

Nearly 20 people were seriously injured, many of them suffering head injuries, while one civilian, Huidrom Jugeshor, 41, of Wabagai Makha Leikai is confirmed dead as a result of the beatings and torture.

Three civilians also sustained bullet wounds in indiscriminate firing by the AR personnel immediately after the attack.

Four innocent youths were also picked up and taken to the AR camp.

Eyewitnesses, describing the attack, said the unidentified underground cadres were hidden in a canter parked near the bazar area, and they suddenly emerged and fired upon the 16 AR personnel while the latter were buying something at the bazar.

After firing for about two minutes, the UGs made good their escape, but the AR personnel continued firing indiscriminately all over the area for more than two hours, locals alleged.

Three civilians identified as Yumnam Khomdon, 60, his son Y Basanta, 20 and Yumnam Jugol Singh, 42 sustained bullet injuries as a result and have been hospitalized.

The locals further said apart from bystanders, and shopkeepers of the bazar area, residents of the adjacent localities were driven from their homes with blows and kicks and forced to lie on the muddy street.

The helpless public were then hit with rifle butts, kicked, and beaten with iron and wooden rods, they charged.

The brutality went on till around 7:30 pm in the evening, after the arrival of DIG V Zathang with a strong police force.

The locals also said that the additional SP, Thoubal had arrived much earlier, but he was detained by the AR personnel.

A number of people sustained serious head injuries as a result of the torture, including Elangbam Nabachandra, 42, Kangjam Jugeshwar, 65, Sapam Udrukhon, 35, Sapam Kesho, 50, Elangbam Amuleishang, 67, Huidrom Tomba, 48, and Naorem Santa, 25.The body of Huidrom Jugeshor, who died yesterday itself, was cremated today after post mortem at Lilong primary health centre.

The four persons picked up by the AR personnel are identified as Mayangbam Surchand, 30, a grocery shop owner, Yumnam Naobi, 25, Chingakham lbetombi, 20, and one Nilo, 24.They have not been released as yet.

In connection with the incident, the public of the area held a meeting today at Wabagai Keithel Macha.

The meeting condemned the security forces' actions against the public and demanded a magisterial inquiry into the incident.

The meeting also demanded payment of Rs.4 lakhs to the family of H Jugeshor as ex-gratin as well as Rs 40,000 each to each of the injured.

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