IT News
Imphal, Jan 4:
The proscribed group, Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF), has released its first preliminary investigation report regarding the incident that occurred at Lilong Chingjao on the evening of January 1.
According to the statement, the group’s members began their journey at 7:30 pm. Upon reaching the residence of Md. Hassan, they discovered that the gate was locked from the inside. The cadres banged on the gate and called for it to be opened. With no response even after five minutes, one of the cadres jumped over the gate and opened it from the inside, allowing the others to enter the house.
Some of the cadres remained near the Gypsy vehicles they had arrived in, while others surrounded the house. Once inside, the cadres interrogated Hassan’s wife about his whereabouts. She informed them that her husband had gone to Lilong bazaar with non-Manipuri construction workers. The cadres then began searching every room for Hassan.
At that moment, Hassan’s wife received a call on her mobile phone, asking if the cadres had entered the house. She confirmed that they had, and a cadre snatched the phone from her. Despite being questioned, Hassan’s wife did not reveal her husband’s location. As a result, the cadres proceeded to the second floor, where they found two locked rooms. When Hassan’s wife refused to open them, the cadres broke down one of the doors and discovered a boy inside. The boy informed them that Hassan was hiding in another locked room. Hassan’s wife was called and asked to have her husband open the door. However, when Hassan did not comply, the cadres forcibly opened the door, only to find that Hassan had hidden in the bathroom.
During this time, some locals began banging on electric poles to attract attention. Those who had remained near the vehicles engaged in heated arguments with the people nearby. Meanwhile, Hassan jumped from the bathroom window and landed on the ground, where the cadres from the group were waiting. As they attempted to apprehend Hassan, a large group of people armed with deadly weapons intervened and demanded identification. The cadres identified themselves as members of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and explained that they had come to speak with Hassan about his involvement in drug smuggling with the Kuki. However, the situation became chaotic when the door was locked. Approximately three to four individuals understood the situation and entered the house to assess the condition.
After exiting the house together, both the locals and the cadres attempted to resolve the matter. However, a large number of people began attacking the cadres. One local individual grabbed a cadre by the neck and attempted to take his weapon, while another attacked a different cadre with a sharp weapon, forcing him to fire gunshots. Both attackers were injured. In response, some individuals began firing guns. The cadres retreated, but the large group of people proceeded to set fire to the vehicles they had arrived in. The cadres left behind the two cell phones they had taken upon entering the house, and no items were taken from the premises.
