3 killed under contrasting claims, bandh called today
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 06: Under contradictory claims, three youths in their late twenties were shot dead by Imphal West District Police Commandos at Kwakeithel Heinou Khongnembi Puthabi at around 9.45 am today.

While the police claimed that the three youths were killed in self defence as they hurled hand grenades at the pursuing commandos, the local people debunked the police claim by asserting that the youths were unarmed and were killed in cold-blood.

In protest against the killing, the JAC formed in connection with the incident has also called a Manipur bandh from 5 am to 6 pm tomorrow.

The victims have been identified as Sapam Paka alias Brojen (27) s/o S Gosai of Malom Tuliyaima Awang Leikai, Wahengbam Bobo (28) s/o Rajen of Changangei Ucheckon and Thangkhenmung alias Thamung (27) s/o Vungkham Hangzo of Paite Veng.

According to a statement issued by the SP of Imphal West District Clay Khongsai, a team of Imphal West District Police Commandos was on frisking and checking duty at Kwakeithel Bazar near the house of (L) Kullabidhu Singh when they saw three persons coming on a Honda Activa from Haobam Marak side towards Kwakeithel Bazar in a suspicious manner.

The police party signalled them to stop but the riders turned and sped towards Kwakeithel Akham Leikai.

Enraged local people block Tiddim road at Malom to protest the killing of three alleged innocent youths by police commandos

Immediately, the police party chased them but one of the pillion riders threw a hand grenade towards the police party.

Luckily the grenade did not explode and fell into the roadside nullah.

The police party further chased them by opening blank fire in the air and warned them to stop, said the SP added that instead of stopping the youths continued to race and when they reached Kwakeithel Heinoukhongnembi Puthabi, the pillion rider sitting in the middle took out another hand-grenade and hurled it towards the police party.

The police also retaliated in self defence and they were hit and expired at the spot.

During spot inspection, one Honda Activa black in colour bearing registration number MN-1Q/3132 and one unexploded hand-grenade were recovered from the spot.

Another unexploded hand-grenade was also recovered from the nullah at Kwakeithel Akham Leikai, the SP informed.

However, debunking the claim of the police, the local people claimed that all the three youths were shot dead by the police commandos in cold blood.

Giving the accounts of eye witnesses, Leimarol Leishem Yaipha Thouram Kannalup, Kwakeithel Heinoukhongnembi Nongshaba Lambi (Puthabi) Meira Paibi accused the police commandos with killing the three youths in cold-blood.

In a statement, the women's body said that the police commandos who were in a vehicle came chasing after the three youths riding a Kinetic Honda and shot at the last pillion rider killing him on the spot.

After the Kinetic Honda broke down, the police commandos picked up the two youths and subjected them to thorough body search and were made to remove their shirts.

It was only after they were made to put on their shirts again, that the police commandos made them to lie down on the black-topped road and shot them dead.

On seeing the two youths struggling for lives, the Meira Paibis ran towards them to do whatever they could to save their lives, but the police commandos resorted to blank firing to dissuade any person from coming nearby, the women body charged, while condemning 'such brutal nature.' According to information culled from the site of the incident, after the three youths did not stop their Kinetic Honda and sped off towards Kwakeithel Akham Leikai where the office of the AMUCO is located, the police commandos chased them and started opening blank from in front of the gate of MLA of Naoriya Pakhanglakpa A/C RK Anand.

But as the youths did not stop, the commandos directly fired at the person who was pillion riding at the back.

After the pillion rider was hit, the Kinetic Honda skidded at Heinoukhongnembi Puthabi area.

The injured pillion rider succumbed to the injuries there.

The hand-grenade which the police claimed to have been hurled at them but missed and fell into the road side nullah was recovered from the nullah running in front of the house of one Kshetrimayum Manjuri Devi of Kwakeithel Akham Leikai.

The hand-grenade was found wrapped in a handkerchief red in colour.

Normally, bomb experts were called in to remove the hand-grenade or any other explosive materials, but today the police commandos did not felt such need and were seen picking up the hand-grenade with their bare hands.

Among the slain youths, Paka was working as a salesman in a garment shop at Paona Bazar.

He was pillion riding at the extreme back.

The bullet that hit him from back side of this head is found to have been exited through his mouth.

Boba was pillion riding in the middle.

There were bullet marks on his head, chest and near the thigh joint.

Slain Thangkhenmung is said to be married man and father of one child.

His father is a Paite while his mother and wife are both Meetei.

The Honda Activa belonged to him.

There was on fatal bullet mark on his forehead.

All the three bodies have been picked up and kept at the mortuary of RIMS.

The family members of the three slain persons have refused to take back the bodies.

It is said all of them might be drug abusers but do not have any connection with any underground organisations.

Soon after the incident, a large number of womenfolk came out to protest the killing and blocked the Tiddim Road at Malom Tuliyaima.

But the police personnel arrived and dispersed them.

After the police team left, the agitating womenfolk came out and resumed the road blockade in the afternoon.

A JAC has also formed in connection with the incident and a memorandum highlighting the demands of the JAC submitted to the Chief Minister.

The memorandum was handed over through Minister Th Debendra.

The demands of the JAC include instituting a judicial inquiry, termination the service of all the guilty police commandos and payment of ex-gratia to the bereaved families.

Along with announcing its decision of launching various agitations in pursuance of these demands, the JAC has also called a State-wide bandh from 5 am to 6 pm tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Siamsinpawlpi Imphal Block (Paite Students' Welfare Organisation) has also come out strongly against the alleged high handedness of the police commandos in killing of the innocent three youths.

The student body has also appealed to authority concerned to look into the matter for taking up necessary action.