Imphal, June 10: A speeding Maruti van today ran over to a group of women staging protest in support of the JCILPS demand for introduction of Inner line permit system in the state. The tragic incident happened at around 2.30 pm today afternoon along the National Highway 2 at Kakwa Boroi Makhong area under Singjamei Police station in Imphal West. The van driver identified as Thokchom Thembi from Singjamei Thongam Leikai has been handed over to police by the locals of the area. However, some of the irate locals dismantled and turn upside down the Maruti van and burnt it down. Fire tender service arriving for rescue was prevented at Kakwa keithel by group of protestors.
Report said the Maruti van runs school service transporting students for Little flower School and Canchi Academy. Witness said that there were 3 school students inside the van at the time of the incident.
Cause of the incident could not be confirmed at the moment, but report culled from the protestors said that the school van bearing registration No. MN-1K 0659 came towards Canchipur site from Singjamei area along the National Highway probably to drop students. As various women Meira paibis from Moirangkhom to Lilong area are staging protest the van was told by protestors to drive slow at Singjamei area. The van reportedly speed up at Kakwa Naorem leikai Boroi Makhong area where a group of women protestors were staging protest in the middle of the road. On seeing the van speeding, some of the protestors shouted to halt however instead of listening it speeded up and ran over to the group of women staging sit-in protest.
At least 5 women protestors were injured. They are identified as Thongbam Rashi (79 years old ), Sagolsem Sangeeta (38 years), Ahanthem Ibmecha (42 years), Konsham Memchoubi (65 years) and Thongam Bembem (34 years) from Thongju and Thongju Pheija Leitong area.
The injured were immediately rushed to Iboyaima Hospital and Research Center at Singjamei Chongtham leikai. Among those injured, condition of two identified as Thongam Bembem and Konsham Memchoubi are stated to be critical. They were referred to RIMS hospital.
Earlier, as announced by the JCILPS women meira paibis and club members in between Moirangkhom to Lilong area stage various democratic form of protest by blocking half of the road, however after the accident the locals of Singjamei area blocked the road completely disallowing any kind of movement.
