IT News
Imphal, March 14
Tension griped border town Moreh in Tengnoupal district after a large number of people started attacking police personnel by vandalizing vehicles for allegedly assaulting two civilians without giving proper reason. The incident happened yesterday afternoon.
Condemning the incident and demanding termination of the police personnel involved in the incident , various CSOs including Hill Tribal Council , Kuki Women Union and Human Rights, Kuki Students’ Organisation, Moreh Youth Club and Kuki Chief’s Association Moreh Block has called total shut down of Moreh town today and indefinite bandh along the Imphal Moreh Route.
In view of the prevailing situation, District administration of Tengnoupal has clamped curfew at Moreh town by imposing prohibition under the sub-section 2 of Section 144 of CrPC for a period of one month starting from yesterday.
According to report, two persons from Leijangphai village, were rushed to Moreh hospital after they were allegedly thrashed by a team of police led by SI Imtiyash at around 11 am yesterday.
The two persons were brothers and identified as Mangminlen Touthang (24) and Khaijamang Touthang (26), s/o (L) Ngamjapao Touthang Leijangphai village, near Moreh.
The report said that at around 10:30 am yesterday when they were on their way to Moreh from Leijangphai in an Swift Car for hair cut and to pick up students from a school, the Police team who were on duty along L Phungchong and Khonomphai signal them to stop. He could not stop immediately as there is one Shaktiman Truck and one auto rickshaw. So he drives few metres away and stopped his vehicle.
The report alleged that the commando personnel rushed to him and before he spoke any words the police commando pointed a pistol on his head and began to thrash him. When one of the duo intervene and tried to reason with the commando personnel the police officer abused him with racial remarks and derogatory words and thrashed him too.
A scuffled reportedly occurred between the police team and those in the car. The injured were rushed to Moreh Hospital and later referred to Imphal.
Later in the evening confrontation broke out between police and mob when some youths from the mob throw stones and wooden rods towards the police personnel where one of the wooden rods hits SP Tengnoupal who was among the police team at the spot. In retaliation the police team fired tear gas and bullets in the air and the mob were dispersed.
We were attacked by a mob while performing duty – Police
Police have a different story in connection with yesterday incident. A statement by the PRO, Manipur Police said that the incident happened after those in the car started attacking them while performing their duty. The clarification said that at around 11.00 am, while a team of police was on duty for checking illegal activities along the Indo Myanmar border as per instruction of the state Home department , a suspicious car with tinted glass (Maruti Swift bearing registration number WB)2AF3805 coming from Holenphai village side was stopped for verification. However the car instead of cooperating with the police tried to fled. The police team however chase the vehicle and stopped them, but when asked for verification those inside the car started attacking them even by trying to snatch their service weapon. And while the confrontation was taking place more people gathered forcing the police team to leave the spot. As the police personnel were injured they were later admitted at Moreh Hospital for treatment. However, at around 12 noon around 150 to 200 numbers of people with deadly weapon like iron rods, sticks , stones etc, came to the Moreh Hospital and started attacking the police. The large number of mob vandalized the police vehicle and some windows of the hospital. After additional police force rushed to the spot and rescued those police personnel undergoing treatment in the hospital by dispersing the mob.
