Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 18:
With the State Assembly elections approaching fast and election campaigns picking up in several parts of the State, 20 persons were hurt today in Kakching Khunou under Sugnu Assembly constituency in a case of election related violence.
The injuries were reportedly caused when police fired tear gas shells and weilded batons to control two opposing mobs belonging to two prospective candidates of the forthcoming Assembly elections.
It is reported that workers of CPI candidate and former Minister Babu allegedly attempted to prevent a Congress workers' conference at Kakching Khunou today.
Sugnu A/C MLA K Ranjit and some other sitting MLAs also went to attend the conference.
But CPI workers allegedly tried to block roads by piling timbers and boulders on the road.
As the Congress workers contended that blocking of roads was not right, there erupted a heated argument between the workers of the opposing camps which only turned ugly.
On receiving information of the incident, a team of police tried to pacify the quarreling crowd.
However, the police was reported ly stoned by some individual there.
To control the ugly brawl and to defend themselves, the police personnel fired some tear gas shells and baton charged the mob.
nAbout 20 individuals including SDPO of Kakching police were hurt in the brawl.
Yet, the Congress workers' conference went ahead without much disturbance after the police personnel brought the situation under control.
It is reported that workers belonging to Congress party and CPI were involved in another highly charged argument in the morning earlier today.
As the two groups of political workers could not control their temper, the verbal duel turned into physical fight.
Later again, the CPI and Congress workers came to blows after CPI workers allegedly tried to prevent the Congress workers' conference coupled with the attempt to block roads.