Imphal, October 20 2010: Over 24 people were injured when police used batons, fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse a protest by villagers demanding release of a villager picked up by security forces.

The incident occurred late last night near Thoubal district police headquarter when police blocked around 200 villagers marching towards the SP's office around 10.30 pm.

Police said villagers of Sangai Yumpham part-II attempted to storm the Thoubal District Police Headquarters demanding unconditional release of a 34-year old man of the village identified as Md Jamir Khan son of Md Jalalluddin.

Two were seriously injured.

Reports said that troops of 15 Assam Rifles and 33 Assam Rifles nabbed Md Jamir Khan from his home on the alleged charge of being a cadre of the North Eastern Minority Front (NEMF), a Muslim based underground group.

He was rounded up around 7.30 pm and handed over to the police with a 9 mm pistol loaded with five live rounds, claimed to have been recovered at the time of rounding him up.

Police registered a FIR against him under section 17/20 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and 25 (1-C) of Arms Act.

However, villagers said that Md Jamir had surrendered a long time back and had been absorbed as a follower in the Manipur Rifles under the surrender rehabilitation policy of the government.

Angered by the alleged false allegation against the man, around 200 villagers in two buses, three vans and auto-rickshaws proceeded to the Thoubal Police Headquarters where police blocked them about 100 metre away from the headquarters.

Police personnel reinforced by police commandos blocked the villagers from storming the headquarters.

Unable to control the crown by a baton charge, police fired tear gas shell and rubber bullets to disperse them, resulting in inflicting injuries to over 24 villagers which included women.

Injured villagers were rushed to the Thoubal district hospital.

One of them identified as Md Helalluddin, who sustained serious injuries from rubber bullets in the leg and other parts of the body, was referred to RIMS Hospital, Imphal last night.

Another villager, Md Attoulah Khan whose condition became serious was brought to the same hospital today morning.

He received several injury marks of burns from tear gas in the face, legs and hands.

In a meeting in the village today presided by former pradhan of the Sangai Yumpham Gram Panchayat discussed the incident and formed a JAC to continue their agitation against the alleged excessive act of the Thoubal police and police commandos.

Speakers at the meeting strongly condemned the police act saying that villagers were simply denouncing to the arrest of an "innocent villager".

They said that Jamir is not an UG.

The meeting also resolved to continue their agitations till their demand for securing the unconditional release of Jamir is fulfilled.

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