Imphal, January 11: An unidentified armed man, clad in battle fatigues, severely beat up a 15 year old girl and her two younger brothers on January 8 at about 2.30 pm at Kholmunlen village under Chakpikarong police station.

Suspicions that the girl child may have been raped by the armed man have also been sounded.

Kholmunlen is a tiny hamlet situated on the way to Sajik Tampak and it takes about 5 hours to reach Sajik Tampak from Kholmunlen by foot.

The father of the three children has been identified as Yangkhai Haokip of Kholmunlen village.

The three kids have been named as Mongneilam (15), Letkhogin (12) and Sonminlal (9).The incident occurred while the children had gone to their farm located about 3.5 kms from their village to get vegetables.

Speaking to newsmen, Lunsei Haokip (23) of Kholmunlen who personally witnessed the sordid incident said that he heard the cries of the children while he was returning home from his farm at about 3 pm on January 8.He said that he saw the gunman beating the children.

Giving details Lunsei Haokip said that the man was attired in battle fatigues and was armed with an AK-47 rifle.

Even as the gunman was beating the younger brothers of Mongneilam, the little girl managed to run away from the spot.

"The gun man saw me and aiming his gun at me ordered me to go home immediately" recalled Lunsei Haokip.

On arriving at the village, Lunsei said he headed straight for the residence of Yangkhai but he was away at Sajik Tampak.

He however narrated the story to Yangkhai's wife, said Lunsei.

Lunsei further said that he along with another villager, Tongkhothang (60) launched a search for the children and at about 8 pm saw Mongneilam crawling on the ground near the farm.

The girl was taken back home by the two villagers and a second search was launched to look for the two younger siblings, said Lunsei.

Sonminlal reached home alone while Letkhogin was discovered lying on the field, said Lunsei.

The three were butted and beaten with a rod, said the villager.

The three children were brought to JN Hospital yesterday for necessary treatment.

Mongneilam and Letkhogin are in serious conditions.

When the mother asked the girl what happened, she answered that she had lost consciousness after the severe beating and did not know what happened after.

Kholmunlen villagers have apprised the matter to the authority concerned.

Meanwhile to protest the incident all vehicles plying upto Sajik Tampak suspended service for the day.

Villagers of Sajik Tampak also staged a sit-in-protest to denounce the incident.

KSO representatives while speaking to The Sangai Express at JN Hospital today said the culprit should be hauled up and given fitting punishment.

Three held: Members of Langjing Achouba Women's Welfare Association apprehended 3 members of a family and later handed them to Lamphel PS for peddling heroin at Langjing Achouba Maning Leikai today 7 am.

The three arrested persons have been identified as Laiphrakpam Tombi (48), Tombi's younger sister Indu (45) and her husband Asem Dhamen of Chanam Sandrok presently residing at Langjing Achouba.

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