Filmmaker beaten up
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 03 2016: Renowned Manipuri filmaker and former general secretary of Film Forum, Manipur Mayanglangbam Raghumani alias Epu (56) has been brutally assaulted after being abducted from his house in the wee hours today.

Family members said that around six unknown persons knocked the door of their Lamphel Sanakeithel residence at around 1.30 am today.

Soon after Epu opened the door, the unknown persons abducted him in a four-wheeler vehicle without uttering any word.

After remaining traceless for some hours, they received an information of someone lying injured at Langol Ngaina Louching near Lamdeng Khunou in the wee hours, they said.

Epu told his family that he was blindfolded soon after he was taken inside the four-wheeler vehicle.

When he enquired why and where he was being taken, the unknown persons asked him to remain silent.

After reaching Langol Ngaina Louching, Epu was beaten up black and blue by the miscreants without giving any reason.

Apart from several bruise marks, Epu also bore cut injuries on several parts of his body including a deep one on his left cheek.

Family members said that Epu was abandoned after the miscreants heard some people coming there at around 3.30 am.

The filmaker was found lying grievously injured there by some villagers who came there to collect firewood.

They rushed him to Advanced Hospital and informed his family.

Sources from the hospital said that Epu's condition is serious as he received injuries all over his body.

Meanwhile, strongly condemning the incident, Film Forum, Manipur has threatened to launch an agitation if the culprits are not arrested within a week.

Addressing a press conference at their Lamphelpat office, forum chairman Laimayum Surjakanta said that the unknown persons attempted to kill Epu by brutally thrashing him at Langol Ngaina Louching.

The filmaker is undergoing treatment in serious condition at Advanced Hospital after the incident, he said.

Surjakanta said that Epu bears cut marks on his left cheek, chin, arm and left heel suspected to be created by a sharp object like a knife.

His left leg is grievously fractured and there are also several bruise and cut marks on his back and abdomen.

Condemning the incident, he said that it is unfortunate to abduct and brutally assault an art-lover without any warning and reason.

He asked the attackers to clarify why they meted out such an inhuman act to Epu at the earliest.

Demanding the Government to arrest the culprits within a week, Surjakanta said that Film Forum, Manipur would launch an agitation if the demand is not fulfilled.

Epu's younger sister Mayanglangbam Bembem said that her elder brother's family has neither had any threat from any underground organisation nor enmity with anybody.

Lalasi Pal and Chang Si Chang are the popular films of the filmmaker.

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