Minor killed in police firing as tension grips Lilong

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A police vehicle set ablaze by bandh supporters at Lilong.
A police vehicle set ablaze by bandh supporters at Lilong.

Curfew clamped in Thoubal district

IMPHAL, January 23: Tension gripped Lilong area as Thoubal district police commandos allegedly shot dead a minor boy this evening at Lilong Kaleikhong.

With the situation continuing to be charged the district authority has clamped curfew in whole Thoubal district until further notice.

The incident is the fall out of a bandh imposed by the Lilong Political Unified Link (LPUL).

The LPUL today imposed an indefinite general strike in Thoubal district from 5 am this morning demanding that the National Highway stretch (4km) from Lilong Bridge to Waithou be widened.

In response to the strike, agitators came out on the streets since morning and blocked the 4km stretch disrupting normal traffic.

In an attempt to disperse the protestors, a team of police rushed to the area around 12.30 pm and fired tears gas, mock bombs and rubber bullets.

It has been alleged that during police action scores of protestors including women and children were injured.

However, the tussle between the police and strike supporters turned ugly in the evening around 4.40 when a re-enforcement team of Thoubal district police commandos shot dead a minor.

The victim has been identified as Md Ilyas Khan, 12, son of Md Jakir Huissain of Lilong Chingkham Maning, a class eight students of Islamic Baby English High School class.

According to protestors the deceased was returning after attending a coaching class at his school. He was allegedly picked up by a team of Thoubal police commandos (on vehicles bearing initial CDO-22 Thoubal). Later his dead body was abandoned at Kaleikhong along the NH-2. He sustained bullet injury on his right ribs.

The agitator further revealed two other also sustained bullet injuries. They have been identified as one Md Azis, 14, son of Salauddin of Lilong Chingkham Maya and Md Amzad, 15, son of Md Sanajaoba of Lilong Mairenkhong. They have been hospitalised at the nearest hospital.

On the other hand, sources informed that during the period of strike the agitators also severely beaten three commuters including a commando personnel of Thoubal and burnt down a vehicle (a white gypsy bearing no. MNO1X-9195) belonging to DK Monsinpha, inspector of School ADC Chandel.

The injured which included two associates of the DK Monsinpha and the commando personnel have been evacuated to Thoubal district hospital.

Later in the evening, the protestors reportedly stormed the Lilong police station wherein some more protestors were reportedly injured when police tried to disperse the crowd.

In the mean time, a convoy of police rushed to the area to retrieve the body of the minor who was allegedly shot by police commandos. However, they were reportedly outnumbered by the protestors armed with catapults, sticks and stones and could not retrieved the body.

In retaliation to the attack, the police reportedly fired tear guns, rubber bullets and mock bombs injuring around 10 protestors.

The lifeless body of the deceased minor was still lying on the National Highway till the filing of this report at 9.30 pm.

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