Two women protesters hurt in stampede as police disperse them
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, November 24 2009: At least two women were injured in a stampede when police fired tear gas and used mob ammunitions to disperse a group of people blocking roads at Khurai areas in Imphal East district.

The protesters were blocking roads to observe 24-hour bandh in Khurai areas in protest against the government's inaction to secure safe release of two officials of the state Electricity Department taken hostage by a particular underground outfit.

Whereabouts of the two officials, Executive Engineer Thangjam Tomalchand and Section Officer Leitanthem Mangi of the Electricity Department posted in Tamenglong district, both residing at Khurai areas of Imphal East district, were kidnapped on November 6 by cadres of the outfit.

Imphal East police commandos dispersing protesters

The outfit while confirming presence of the two officials in their custody had informed the family that they had taken them in their custody to interrogate on a scandal involving Rs 15 crore in the department while giving the reason.

Since the kidnap of the two officials, local residents of Khurai areas have been staging sit-in-protest urging the authority of the electricity department to secure safe release of the two officials by negotiating with the kidnappers.

Failure on part of the department to fulfill their demands, residents of the area under the banner of a Joint Action Committee (JAC) formed in connection with the kidnapping, imposed Khurai area bandh with effect from last midnight.

In the early hour, people took to the mains streets and blocked roads by burning debris and other flammable materials on the road.

They also disallowed vehicle plying on the roads and forced them back to the way they come.

The road block also disturbed the traffic on the stretch of the Imphal-Ukhrul section of the NH-39 .

Shops and other business establishments at Lamlong Bazar, the biggest market in Imphal east district remain down shutter for the day owing to the bandh.

The market wore a deserted look.

Around 10.30 am, police teams from Imphal east dispersed the protestors by firing tear gas shell and mob ammunition devises as protestors refused to open the road for normal traffic.

In the stampede in dispersion at Tinsid road at least two women sustained injuries.

One of them sustained severe injury.

She has been admitted at a hospital nearby.

Despite the police effort, normal traffics on the streets in the area could not resume for the day even though police personnel were detailed on the stretch of the main roads passing through the areas.

Meanwhile, the JAC imposing the bandh has threatened to intensify their protest against government inaction toward securing safe release.

"We will launch other forms of agitations as part of pressing our demand," the convener of the JAC told reporters.