Imphal, March 21: Residents of Maphou Dam area located 20 km east of Lamlai Police Station in Imphal East district revolted against the conduct of two IRB jawans who misbehaved with two women last night and attacked the Maphou police outpost.

To control the situation, IRB personnel resorted to firing causing injury to a woman.

The woman victim along with other five persons who were allegedly beaten up by the IRB jawans have been admitted to RIMS Hospital for treatment.

Following the outbreak of violence, work at the dam has been suspended from today and the IRB unit has been shifted.

Trouble started when two IRB men in civvies came out from the camp last evening at about 5.30 and dragged two women by the hands offering to treat them to a pan.

When the two women alerted other people, the two IRB jawans were beaten up.

The two IRB men are identified as SS Simon Lamkang of Chandel and Paokholet Kipgen of Hayang village in CCpur.

Taking strong exception t the beating of the two IRB men, at about 8 pm yesyterday, a team of IRB personnel who were in full uniform came to the village and arrested all the young men and took them to their camps where they were subjected to severe thrashing.

Seikhohao Lupheng (25) s/o Thonglhum, Tongkhohao Lupho (23) s/o Khomlet, Jangkholam Touthang (24) s/o Jamkhosei, Henminlien Mate (24) s/o Thangkhosei, Mate, Seikhopao Lupheng (25) s/o Sokhulun Lupheng were among those who sustained serious injuries in the beating.

The young men were also made to bite bullets and bombs stuffed in their mouths by the IRB jawans who threatened them not to tell anything to the people before they were finally set free at around 10 pm.

When the womenfolk learnt about the brutality of the IRB personnel on the innocent young men of the village, they revolted against the IRB personnel who retaliated with firing several rounds to control the situation.

In the firing a 35-year old woman identified as Nemjalhing Lupheng (35) was hurt.

DIG (Armed police) MA Rehman and SP of Imphal East Kailun rushed to the site of the incident today to take stock of the situation.

The two IRB men who misbehaved with the women were taken into custody to be handed over the to the police.

The two police officers assured the local people that the IRB unit which was deployed there from March 15 would be removed and the two jawans would be suspended.

The cost of treating the injured villagers will also be borne by the Government.

Meanwhile, taking serious note of the Maphou Dam incident, All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU) has strongly condemned the action of the IRB personnel.

Addressing a press conference at AMSU Headquarters this afternoon, joint secretary of the students' body MS Helien Lupho informed that IG and other top police officials who came to visit the injured victims at RIMS Hospital today have assured that the post of the 2nd IRB would be removed from Maphou Dam within two days.

Vice president of the students' body E Ratankumar who was also present at the occasion demanded that fitting punishment should be given to all the guilty IRB personnel and the IRB post be removed from Maphou Dam.

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