Armed miscreants open fire injuring at least 5
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 15 2023:
At least five individuals including a woman sustained injuries when unidentified gunmen opened fire at Sega Road, Khwairakpam Leikai, Imphal West district last night.
Around 20 armed men in civilian fatigues came and tried to abduct a person at around 10.40 pm yesterday.
As the people of the neighbourhood intervened and thwarted their abduction bid, the armed men opened fire, inflicting injuries to five.
The injured victims have been identified as Nongmaithem Priyananda alias Tondon (43) s/o late N Mani (Sega Road Konjeng Hajari Leikai), RK (O) Medhabati (50) w/o RK Manao (Sega Road, Konjeng Hajari Leikai), Nongmaithem Abelson (15) s/o late N Priyobarta (Sega Road Konjeng Hajari Leikai), Salam Boicha (30) s/o S Tiken of Sayang Kurao Makhong and Phijam Trilokchand (34) s/o P Tomei (Sega Road Khwairakpam Leikai) .
Taking strong exception to the gun violence perpetrated against civilians, a Joint Action Committee (JAC) has been constituted.
Speaking at a press meet organised by the JAC this afternoon, Khaidem (O) Ranjana of Khwairakpam Leikai who claimed to have witnessed the incident said that a group of armed persons first knocked the gate of her house at around 10.40 pm.
"In the next moment, they entered the house and tried to abduct my husband, Khaidem Bobo", she said.
At this Khaidem Ranjana said she and her two brothers-in-law intervened and asked the armed men to talk about the matter peacefully.
However, the armed men tried to take away Bobo forcefully resulting in a scuffle.
On hearing the noise, Meira Paibis who were present nearby and people of the neighbourhood rushed in.
On seeing the crowd, the armed men went outside the gate and opened several rounds of fire, Ranjana recounted.
Some days back, Bobo wrote something on Facebook.
Reacting to the same Facebook post, ex-BJYM president M Barish Sharma, accompanied by some of his henchmen came on October 12 afternoon and asked Bobo to make a clarification (in social media) .
Subsequently, Bobo made a clarification, she said.
JAC convenor Ch Iboyaima said that the Meira Paibis and the local people tried hard to persuade the armed men not to take away Bobo.
However, instead of listening to the repeated requests of the Meira Paibis and the local people, they opened several rounds of fire in the air and then directly at the crowd, Iboyaima said.
It is a matter of grave concern that the armed men tried to abduct a citizen at gunpoint for sharing an opinion in social media (Facebook), the JAC convenor decried.
He warned that strong agitation would be launched together with local clubs, Meira Paibis and CSOs if all those people involved in the abduction attempt are not arrested by tomorrow (October 16) afternoon.
He also urged the Government to pay medical bills of all those victims who sustained injuries in yesterday's incident.
The armed men came in four wheelers including Scorpio, Bolero and two wheelers.
Apart from recovering a large number of spent bullets including those of 9 mm ammunition from the place of incident, the armed men left behind a TVS moped.
As one two-wheeler has already been seized, all those people involved in the gun violence can be easily identified and arrested, Iboyaima asserted.
He said they have already lodged an FIR at Imphal police station in connection with last night's incident.
The State Government's inaction against the ex-president, BJYM despite his alleged involvement in several crimes has aggrieved and infuriated many people, he said.
The JAC convenor also urged the Home Department to take up all necessary measures to put an end to harassment of innocent citizens by armed persons.
He added that the JAC would submit a memorandum to the Chief Minister today with regard to yesterday's gun violence.
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