Lamka, March 09 2009: Tension continues to rule the streets of Lamka today following the skirmishes last night that lasted for about four hours as two groups of people again resorted to pelting stones at each other for about five minutes and forced security personnel to open fire in order to secure the situation.

The District Magistrate has clamped 144 CrPC in the area for 24 hours as a pre-emptive measure beginning 11.30 am.

Earlier in the day the township wore a deserted look but things appeared to be calm with family members of Late Vungkhanthang claiming his body after an understanding was reached with the Chief Minister.

With normalcy seemingly returning shops started opening.

But after about an hour the situation again took an ugly turn as another group of people allegedly annoyed that some people from their community was injured in the melee last night, asked the shops to down their shutters.

This led to another stand-off similar to that of last night's with the parties concerned resorting to chanting of abuses and pelting of stones.

Security forces headed by the Superintendent of Police, positioned themselves in the middle and tried their bit to subdue the situation.

However after receiving their share of stones and after witnessing that some residential area was targeted, the SP ordered top open blank fire.

A few rounds of firing managed to halt the stone pelting activities but it took some time before the Assam Rifles could disperse the crowd on both sides.

According to an understanding reached yesterday between the Government and the deceased family which was represented by Zomi Council and Zomi Students' Federation, ex-gratia as per rules will be paid by the Government while it will also arrange a Govt job for one member of the deceased family.

An informed source also said that the State Cabinet will discuss the option of terminating Zou Defence Volunteers (ZDV), an armed wing of the KNO, from the ambit of Suspension of Operation (SoO).

The Cabinet meeting was convened today after the organizations that represented the deceased family made it clear that the armed group was suspected to be involved in the farm house attack and insisted on their expulsion, said the source.

A statement issued by Additional District Magistrate said in the wake of the killing of Vungkhanthang Tonsing in the night of 7 March 2009, a serious law and order problem has erupted in Churachandpur town.

As there is �still apprehension of serious tension between the two communities which may lead to serious breach of peace and tranquillity,' a preventive measure under Section 144 clause 2 of CrPC was imposed from 11.30 am today till 6 am tomorrow.

Accordingly assembly of more than five persons, carrying of swords, sticks or articles that may be use to harm is forbidden.

Meanwhile, Meetei Society Churachandpur and the Khuga Tampak Youth Association in a separate statements today said they strongly condemned the attack on a Honda Activa and Hero Honda (burnt) with registration numbers MN02/8994 and MN01E/9174, a Shaktiman ( MNO1/6918) besides the residences of some from their community during the course of the skirmishes.

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