Imphal, August 20: Around three civilians and a police personnel reportedly suffered injuries during skirmishes when security personnel fired several rounds of rubber bullets and tear gas shells to disperse agitators along the National Highway 39 in between Khonghampat and Sekmai area today.

The first scuffle broke out at Khonghampat when security reinforcement led by Imphal West district Commando OC N Lokhon rushed to contain a confrontation between rallyists and a team of Sekmai police station personnel.

The agitators consisting of youth and women from Khonghampat and nearby areas were attempting to take out a rally at around 8 am demanding withdrawal of AFSPA, punishment of security personnel involved in the killing of pastor Jamkholet Khongsai and Th Manorama Devi and shifting of Assam Rifles from Kangla.

When security personnel tried to foil the rally firing tear gas and rubber bullets, the rallyists, especially the youths, retaliated with stones and catapult shots besides blocking the highway by lighting fire on the road.

Besides catapult shot injury reportedly suffered by a Sekmai police personnel a young boy also received tear gas wound at the leg when the victim was at the courtyard.

The police also arrested 2/3 youths, said sources.

The second incident occurred at Tendongyang near Sekmai where some youths had set fire on the road to choke traffic flow along the highway as part of the ongoing general strike at around 10 am.

On seeing the arrival of security personnel the agitationist fled resulting in the security personnel giving a hot chase firing several rounds of tear gas many of which landed at residential areas.

One tear shell fell and burst at the courtyard of one Soibam Binanta at Tendongyang Makha Leikai resulting in one year old son (Yaiphaba) of Binanta, who was sleeping at the verandah, losing consciousness.

A thirteen year old brother of the infant Nanao sustained leg injuries due to the tear gas shell explosion.

One Khundongbam Herojit (12), who was with Nanao at that time, got his hair burnt besides losing the tip of his right middle finger.

The security personnel also took away one Angomjambam Ranjan (13) of Tendongyang Awang Leikai, who came on a bicycle along with a friend, on charges of being one of the agitators.

The friend left behind his bicycle and managed to flee from the scene.

Ranjan was taken away with the two bicycles.

One 37 year old Thingbaijam Loken of Tendongyang Makha Leikai also suffered face, hand and leg injuries when he handled a live tear gas shell likely to have been dropped by the police during the crackdown.

He has been admitted to RIMS Hospital.

After the police left the Tendongyang villagers again came out and blocked the road.

Press sources also informed that personnel of 19 Rashtriya Rifles in civies detained some youths at Lamshang Akham Leikai when they were blocking the road felling trees and burning tyres.

While one Jiten{28) was beaten up by the security personnel and suffered mild injury the detained youths were made to clear the debris, added the source.

Meanwhile, a team of Irilbung police station personnel led by the OC ran amok at Bamon Kampu areas today morning, alleged People's Action Committee Against brutal Custodial Killing of Th Manorama Devi, Bamon Kampu, Imphal East.

The Committee further charged that without any intimidation the police team resorted to indiscriminate firing of tear gas shells and rubber bullets besides releasing live bullets at residential areas.

The security personnel also pulled down and abused placards and banners put up at the entrance gate of Manorama's residence, contended the release adding electric bulbs and wires along the Imphal-Yairipok road street were also destroyed while fear psychosis was created by using loudspeakers.

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