Imphal, March 25 2009: Normal traffic on the Indo-Myanmar section of the NH-39 disturbed for the day on Wednesday as irate residents of Kakwa blocked the road since morning, protesting against shooting to dead of a local youth by the security force allegedly after picked from his way to Manipur University to meet with his girl friend yesterday evening.

At least two women, mother and sister of the deceased youth sustained injuries when police fired tear gas and used other mob dispersion devises to quell the protestors blocking the highway at around 9.30 am to resume normal traffic on the highway.

A youth hailing from Kakwa, a village on the eastern side of the Indo-Myanmar road later today identified as Thuodam Shantikumar (22) son of Ibochouba was gunned down by a combined force of Imphal west police commandos and troops of 16 Maratha Li at Tairenpokpi village under Lamshang police station of Imphal west yesterday evening at around 4.30 pm.

While claiming that he was killed in encounter, police said, an AK-47 rifles loaded with 15 live rounds of ammunitions.

He was a KYKL cadre joined in the year 2002, police said.

However, locals strongly denied the claim and said that Shantikumar was a daily bread earner of the family and not related or link with any underground elements.

They also alleged the security force killing him in fake encounter after picked up.

Protestors said, Shantikumar went out from home saying that he is going to meet his girl friend studying at Manipur University, Chanchipur which is not so far away from his resident yesterday afternoon by borrowing Rs 500 and a mobile phone from his one of local friends.

Locals also said that he was picked up by the police commandos from the main entrance gate of the university from the highway while he was waiting for his girl friend there.

Decrying the killing after allegedly picked up, locals took to streets on the highway and blocked the traffic.

They blocked with woods and standing across the road as a result of which all kinds of vehicles plying in the busy portion of the highway stranded.

As protestors failed to lift the blockade, police fired several rounds of tear gas and mob dispersion devises to disperse the protestors from blocking the road and disturbing to the normal traffic.

In the police dispersion act, the mother of the deceased youth and his younger sister who took part in the protest sustained injuries.

They were evacuated at hospital at Imphal.

Despite police action, the protestors continued to protest till late evening even though traffic was partially resumed later.

It is worth noting here that the CPI has nominated Dr..MNara as its candidate for the Inner Manipur parliamentary constituency.

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