Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 15 2009:
Driver of an Executive Engineer of Loktak Development Authority (LDA) has been wounded as unidentified miscreants opened fire in a failed bid to abduct the EE at Oinam area of Bishnupur district today.
Information received from the incident spot suggests that the EE was supervising dredging works in between Oksoi Maril and Maichakpi to drain out excess water from the confluence of Nambol and Oinam rivers, when the incident took place.
At about 4.20 pm, two youths armed with small weapons arrived at the workplace and tried to whisk away the EE, identified as Oinam Ibopishak, towards Lairenkabi village.
However, one Soibam Priyokumar (36), an assistant secretary of the local United Voluntary Organisation raised objection to the gunmen's intention resulting in an altercation and subsequent firing by one of the armed youths with the EE the obvious target.
However, in the firing, the EE's driver Yumnam Manichandra (40) of Khurai nandeibam Leikai suffered bullet wound on the left side of the abdomen and has been admitted to Shija Hospital in critical condition.
As the miscreants fled towards the Keinou side along the Yangoi Mapal road, a team of Bishnupur district police led by Additional SP Md Isaac Shah went in pursuit but till the time of filing this report there is no report of arrest.
According to the EE Ibopishak, who is from Oinam Mamang Leikai, the dredging work is being carried out with monetary contributions from the Oinam villagers and the LDA's assistance limited to provision of two excavators.
Even as the EE clarified that the work is not a contract scheme, Oinam AC's MLA Irengbam Ibohalbi arrived at the scene and promptly condemned the arm assault.
It is also informed that the unidentified persons intended to set ablaze the machines as containers with petrol were recovered after the duo fled.
The excavators are being kept under the vigil of the locals.
A public meeting held late in the evening decided to prohibit entry of unidentified persons into the village.