IMPHAL, May 20: Situation aggravated over the death of the young married woman who was found floating in a pond in Uchiwa Lamhang yesterday after a clash ensued today between a large group of people from her village who had gone to vandalise the house of a male suspect at Mayang Imphal Thana Awang Leikai and neighbours of the man.
According to reports, overcame by shock at the death of Wahengbam (ningol) Ichal Devi, 20, daughter of late Birkumar of Sekmaijin Khunou Mayai Leikai, the villagers of Sekmaijin came together yesterday to discuss the incident and a joint action committee was formed. At around 1pm today, around two hundreds villagers of Sekmaijin loaded in two buses travelled to Mayang Imphal Thana Awang Leikai in search of the person who had accompanied Ichal. After reaching the place, they went ahead with the business of vandalising the house of the suspect. People from the suspect’s locality tried to stop the demolition resulting in the scuffle.
Police arrived at the scene and successfully took control of the situation. Fifteen persons, including seven from Mayang Imphal Thana Awang Leikai and the rest from Sekmaijin, were picked up by the police. All of them were later released unconditionally by the police, according to a member of the JAC.
After getting dispersed by the police, the mob turned their wrath against the security personnel and tried to storm the Mayang Imphal Police Station demanding arrest of the accused. Taking up precautionary measures, the policemen fired tear gas shells at the protestors. Fortunately, no person was injured in the police action.
After things settled down, representatives of the JAC and top officials of the police sat together and discussed the steps that the police are planning to take up in connection with the case.
On the other hand, according to reports which have to be officially confirmed, police have rounded up three suspects in connection with the death of Ichal. The body of the deceased is still lying at RIMS mortuary without post mortem examination being performed.
