TODAY -
Two dead in Mao violence
Reinforcement rushed ; security tightened at Senapati HQ
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, May 06 2010: Security personnel in Mao town today resorted to firing when a number of locals stormed a temporary security barrack leaving two locals dead and three others including an IRB personnel injured.

Three weapons including an AK-47 rifle had been snatched away by the mob from the security personnel.

In other related incidents, amidst the prevailing tension and confusion, eight vehicles of the security forces were also damaged in stoning by the supporters of NSCN-IM at Mao gate.

The clash erupted when a group of local people stormed the temporary barrack of security personnel of 2nd Manipur Rifles, 7th MR and 5th IRB at the community hall at the office on the campus of the Paomai Development Association at Mao town at about 11 am.

The group of people stormed the security barrack taking advantage of the presence of only a few security personnel in the barrack.

After entering the barrack, some of the locals started ransacking and burning down of materials belonging to the security personnel, apart from assaulting the security personnel in the barrack with sticks and other deadly weapons.

Some security personnel, on seeing the ransacking of their materials, rushed to stop them.

As they turned towards the security men and attempted to snatch their weapons, they resorted in firing tear gas and bullets to control them.

In the fracas, two youths were hit by bullets died inside the security barrack.

They were identified as Meli Chakho (19), a student of BA 1st study in Bangalore and Loshu (19), a student of Zakhama College, Nagaland.

Another youth also sustained serious injuries when hit by bullet in the fracas.

He has been evacuated at a nearest hospital in Kohima.

His condition was stated to be serious.

Some reports said he succumbed to his injury on the way to hospital but there were no official confirmation report about his dead.

Local as well as police reports said that three arms, an AK series rifles, one 9 mm pistol) and smoke gun (gun used in firing tear gas) of the security forces taken away by the storming youths.

The two were killed inside the campus of the security barrack where the group of people forcibly intruded and attempted to snatch away arms from the security personnel.

The group with deadly weapon like sticks, axes etc.

also assaulted security men who prevented them and took away three weapons, a police officer at Mao who did not want to name said when contacted by this correspondent.

When the news of death of two youths spread, a good number of women rose up defying the restriction imposed under section 144 of CrPC.

They attacked vehicles of the security forces and police.

At least eight vehicles of the security forces were damaged in other incidents occurred near the Mao town on the highway.

Windshields of three buses transporting CRPF personnel for reinforcement at Mao gate, three trucks used by the police and a DI tata carrying tear gas shell were smashed apart from burning down a vehicle by the protestors.

Some women protestors were reported injured in stampede and by tear gas shells fired by the police and security forces to dispersed them out and clear the road.

Suspected supporters of Muivah visit in the state had also burnt down a government office at Tadubi in Senapati district in the wee hour of Thursday.

Furniture and office documents were turned into ashes in the arson of the SDO office, Tadubi.

Following the incident, security forces reinforced from Imphal had be detailed for guarding the Senapati DC office and district police headquarters as possibility of protestors targeting the two main places of the district is very high, reports said.

On the other hand, three mass prayers offered at various churches located in Chandel district for easing the prevailing tensions and prevalent of peace in the region started from last Tusday concluded today.

The prayer was held mostly by the sub-tribes of Naga said, a resident of Chandel district headquarters when contacted by this correspondent.





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