Lamka, Aug 21: Despite the contradictory claims surrounding the shooting incident at Vengnuam, New Lamka last night, in which one person was killed while five others were injured, CCpur town remained tense during the last 24 hours with the Churachandpur District Students' Union taking up the onus of airing the protest against the killing of a Church goer.

As tension gripped the town, people from all walks of life chose not to venture out and the streets within the township wore a deserted look and business establishments downed shutters.

Tyres were burnt at various road crossings and glasses were scattered along the roads as Churachandpur District Students Union (CDSU) raised numerous demands on the Government including Judicial Inquiry over the incident.

The situation eased later in the evening as the Government responded positively to the the various demands and the dead body was carried off to his residence.

The other demands include immediate payment of Rs 5 lakh as ex-gratia to the next of kins of the deceased and a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to all injured, stern action against all security personnel involved and issuance of strict instructions to the various armed agencies to ensure safety of worshippers in religious places.

Representatives of CDSU met Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh at the latter's office chamber to sort out the matter and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on which basis the student body agreed to call off its agitation.

Accordingly it has been agreed that the Government will institute a Magisterial Inquiry into the incident and take up appropriate measures in accordance to the report of the inquiry, give ex-gratia to the bereaved family within 15 days and compensation to all the injured persons.

35year old Thwangkhanlian Ngaite was killed in the firing at Evangelical Baptist Church located at Vengnuom while five others namely Niangzaching, Lianzamang, Songkhamlun, Khamkhanlal and Thangmuanlal sustained injuries.

Talking to this correspondent an Army official who claimed he was involved in the incident but refused to be named alleged that it was 3rd Rajputana Rifles which was engaged in the shoot out last night and contended that they were only retaliating after being fired upon.

He further alleged that they were moving in two civilian vehicles in which unnamed informers were seated but denied that they were looking for cadres belonging to outfits which have signed suspension of operation with the Central Government.

Upon inquiring, CO of 41Bn BSF claimed that the Army personnel did not inform them while moving along their operation area, as was the norm, last night.

Meanwhile condemnations have poured in from various quarters including EBC, Vengnuam on whose doorsteps the deceased was shot.

"Attacks on worshippers by non-State actors may not be a new thing in the history of mankind.

However, the attack by Government security forces employed and deployed to defend the defenseless and uphold the Constitution is most shocking to say in a secular country like India" said a statement of the Church.

It also wondered why its Church and member remain easy targets of the so-called law keepers and declared that the Church neither nurtured nor harbored any underground elements till date.

Kuki Mission Leaders' Peace Committee also in its condemnation questioned how long the Army would continue to terrorize the people.

"Firing Church goers right at the Church premises is a violation of the law of the land and if not stopped in time it will begin to break the secular fabrics of India" it stated.

Zomi Human Rights Foundation (ZHRF) and Siamsinpawlpi Lamka Block also joined the condemnation while Manipur Hills Journalist Union members will not bring out tomorrow's edition to show its solidarity to the victims and condemn the attack within a Church campus.

The All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur has also strongly condemned the incident at CCpur last night.

In a statement, the student body said it shares the grief and pain of the bereaved family members and support any course of action taken up by CDSU.

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