Imphal, January 03 2008: HIGH TENSION prevalent among the residences of Keirao and Langdum area following rounding of three villagers by the police in connection with the brutal murder of a 12 year old even as at least two women were hurt in police firing tear gas shells to disperse a crowd storming the Irilbung police station today.

At the latest to the murder incident, local reports said that police has rounded up three villagers allegedly in connection with the murder case who locals of Langdum area where the trio hail from said nothing to do with the murder case and demanded un-conditional release of them in a meeting held this afternoon.

At least two women hurt while two other fainted when police fired tear and baton charge to disperse a crowd storming a local police station in Imphal east district Saturday demanding arrest of culprits behind the murder of a 12 year old boy found killed brutally at Urup hills yesterday morning.

The boy named Md Wahidur alias Naocha (12) s/o Maheruddin of Keirao Makting Makha Leikai under Irilbung police station who went missing after he go for collecting firewood from Urup hills a day before his dead body was found was found murder by the villagers who conducted a manhunt in the hill yesterday morning near Langdum water supply at the foothill.

Apart from having various injury marks in his body including at the private part area, a stick was found inserted in the mouth which pierced through the back of the head.

Hands and legs were also found tied by a cloth and belt at the time of detecting the dead body which shocked the villagers.

Today, hundreds of villagers up in arms and stormed the Irilbung police station demanding finding out of the culprits behind the murder and award of befitting punishment crying that police should take the case seriously and book the culprits at the earliest.

Unable to control the converging crowd, additional police force from Imphal east district headquarter called out in dispersing the gathering people at around 11 am today.

Police fired several tear gases and used mob ammunition devises to put the crowd under control.

Two women among the protestors were hit by the tear gas shells.

They were immediately evacuated at hospital in Imphal.

Later two more women also fainted at the spot.

They were treated by the people to regain their consciousnesses.

The villager after forming a JAC yesterday has resolved not to claim the dead body until the Govt books the murderers and the same is lying at RIMS morgue where police shifted from the police station as family refused to receive.

Irilbung police registered a case in connection with the killing, official source said and investigations are on to find the culprits.

Meanwhile, to consider the tension arising out of picking up of three villagers of the Langdum village in connection with the murder case, a public meeting held at Langdum community hall this evening has appealed all concern to stop spreading remour which could lead to communal clash in the area.

The meeting presided by secretary of the Langdum Women's Welfare Association, Hidam Thabalei while resolving to condemn the murder of the boy has urged the concerned authority to release the three villagers rounded up by the Irilbung police in connection with the murder case.

A JAC Against the Random Arrest of Innocent People of Langdum was also formed in the meeting with Longjam Momon as chairman.

The meeting also further resolved to face any further rounding of innocent people of the village in connection with the murder case.

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