Imphal, October 27 2009: Three persons moving on a jeep vehicle beaten up badly by suspected armed underground activists yesterday near the BRTF headquarters at Keithelmanbi along the NH-53 under Sapermaina police station have been hospitalized at RIMS Imphal.

The injured victims were from Kharam Pallel village.

They were identified as Thangnaithun Rwangla (45) son of Laisoshan Rwangla, Reijanglin (32) son of late Thangshinlun and Longsoshon Seichan (32).Thannaithun was the owner of the jeep while Laisoshan was the driver while Longsoshon was the passenger picked up on the way.

The incident occurred at about 4.30 pm yesterday when they were heading to their village with PDS rice collected from Imphal, according to the injured persons.

Owner of the jeep, Thangnaithun said when they were travelling on the vehicle two unknown persons took a lift from near the Assam Rifles post at New Keithelmanbi.

The two persons who they consider as passenger asked to stop the vehicle when they reached near the BRTF headquarter.

Two other persons with arms in their hands who were found at the spot took them into a house at gunpoint.

They asked the reason behind the plying of the vehicle without paying tax to them.

When the vehicle owner said of having no idea about the matter, the two armed persons started beat him up with a log.

They also asked whether he is a Meetei.

When said no and he is from Kharam village, they again started beating him up alleging that he is talking lie.

Then, they turned toward the lone passenger and beaten up him and the driver.

The armed miscreants beaten up them for about two hour by pouring water on them, the vehicle owner told at the hospital.

Before releasing them, they also took away Rs 5000 and asked them to pay Rs 10,000.They were admitted at RIMS Hospital for medical treatment.

The All Kharam Tribes Students Union, Kharam Meira Paibi and Kharam Women Society have expressed denounce on the assault incident.

Expressing his strong condemnation, KTSU secretary Rilbor said the union took seriously to the assault of three persons as the act of the armed miscreants was meted out with a communal feeling.

The act was that of coward people, he added.

He also sought the help of KSO, Kuki Inpi and Kuki Women Union to investigate into the incident.

The incident has also showed that the SPF government in the state could not protect the people of smaller group, he added.

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