Imphal, June 22: Refusing to buy the version of the Assam Rifles that Pheiroijam Kishorjit was killed in an encounter and not in custody, enraged womenfolk of Lamlai today smashed to smithereens a TV set and an antenna which were gifted to them during a Military Civic Action Programme.

The women took recourse to this action shortly after Brigadier Rabindranath of the 10 Sector Assam Rifles explained that Kishorjit was killed in an encounter.

To protest the killing of Kishorjit under contradictory claims, the JAC formed in connection with the incident has imposed an indefinite bandh on the Imphal-Ukhrul road since yesterday.

To take stock of the situation Lamlai kendra MLA and Art and Culture Minister Ph Parijat along with the Commander of the 10 Sector Assam Rifles arrived at Lamlai today.

After hearing the grievances and protests of the meira paibis and the JAC formed in connection with the killing, the Minister then met the Assam Rifles officers to discuss the situation.

During the talk held at the office of the Lamlai police OC, Brig Rabindranath stuck to the stand that Kishorjit was not killed in custody but in an encounter.

The AR officer informed that troops were pressed into service following specific inputs about the presence of militants in the area.

Kishorjit was found moving alone in a suspicious manner at about 1.30 am, said the Brigadier and added that when asked to stop he turned and opened fire towards the troops.

He was then killed in retaliatory firing.

At this Parijat expressed surprise that a militant would move around alone in the dead of the night at a wooded area and then have the gumption to open fire on the security personnel alone.

�A thorough probe of the matter is needed,� said Parijat without beating around the bush.

After discussing the matter for about one hour the Brigadier along with the Minister came out of the police station but were greeted by a large number of women folk who wanted to return the dish antenna and TV set gifted by the AR during a Civic Action programme conducted about three years back.

The TV set and the dish antenna were gifted by the 25 Assam Rifles about three years back to the Nongada Awang Leikai Meira Paibis.

Expressing strong protest against the encounter version of the Assam Rifles, the women folk announced that the earlier ties that existed between them and the AR have been severed and wanted to return the TV set and dish antenna.

To pacify the enraged women folk, Brig Rabindranath said that the good relationship between the Assam Rifles and the women folk of Nongada is still intact and explained that Kishorjit was not killed in custody but in an encounter.

He also assured the women folk that if any Assam Rifles personnel are found guilty of any misconduct they would be given fitting punishment.

The Brig also said that it would be unethical to take back something which was gifted earlier as a token of love.

Parijat also tried to pacify the womenfolk.

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