DIMAPUR, MAY 28 (EMN): At least two women have been reported injured in another Manipur police firing at Khumji village in Tamenglong district of Manipur.
Another person was brutally assaulted with rifle butts, a release by the United Naga Council (UNC) reported.
According to the UNC release, the incident occurred on Friday, May 28, following a fuel tanker meeting with an accident in the area. The fuel tanker, headed for Imphal from Silchar, reportedly lost control at a turn at Khumji village and turned turtle on the road. However, without ascertaining the circumstances and on suspicion that the accident was a case of sabotage, the Manipur Commandos coming up from Imphal escorting empty trucks heading for Jiribam started firing indiscriminately on innocent bystanders who had gathered around the accident spot, the release said. Two women were injured in the firing, it reported – Ester (25), d/o Athui Kamei and student of Noney High School, was shot on the left thigh and Ariang Riamei (45) sustained injury on the lower limb.
The Manipur police commandos then reportedly barged into the house of one Robinson Kamei (25), s/o Keiramsunang Kamei and student of Noney High School, and severely assaulted him with rifle butts and kicks. 4 other villagers were also beaten for no reason, the release said.
The Newmai News Network reported injury to three women in the firing. It also reported that, on hearing of the incident, womenfolk of the area numbering around 500 blocked the road in protest. The womenfolk did not allow any vehicle including Assam Rifles crane to be used to recover the ill-fated truck that met with an accident, it said.
Meanwhile, voicing shock at the uncontrolled and unwarranted use of violent force by the Manipur State Armed forces, the UNC has said 'this unprovoked brutality is yet again a telling testimony of the psychological conditions of the Manipur State armed forces, whose trigger happy fingers and violent approach have found yet additional innocents and unarmed victims', adding that the 'panic ridden commandos' have now been 'let loose to cause havoc in civilian areas creating an atmosphere of fear and insecurity'.
Holding the Manipur State Armed forces and the Manipur State Government responsible for all the atrocities that are being continuously committed on the Naga people, the Council further called upon all right thinking people and civil societies to condemn the dastardly act.
The United Naga Council also extended full support to the 6-day Tamenglong District Bandh called by the Zeliangrong Students' Union, Manipur, to protest the brutality as well as the protest rally scheduled at Tamenglong on May 29, 2010.
The All Naga Students Association, Manipur, has also strongly condemned the 'senseless act' of the Manipur forces and once again demanded that the IRB and commandoes should be immediately withdrawn from Naga areas.
It further informed that the injured are undergoing treatment at Imphal and appealed to all Nagas and well wishers to help the innocent victims
Another bandh for Manipur govt
Dimapur, May 28 (MExN): The All Naga Students' Association of Manipur today extended total support to a bandh called by the Zeliangrong Students' Union of Manipur from the midnight of May 28, till 6:00 PM of June 3 in protest against the reported panic-firing of Manipur police commandoes that left several people injured in Khumji village of Manipur's Tamenglong district.
"The IRBs and commandoes who are on escort duty from Imphal to Jiribam started firing indiscriminately when one of the empty trucks accidentally overturned on the highway as it approached Humji village. Among the six people injured, Ms. Ester Kamei, 25 years of age, daughter of Athui Kamei and Mrs. Ariang Riamei, 45 years of age, were hit by teargas canisters and sustained serious injury in their thigh and lower limbs.
Another persons Mr. Robinson Kamei, 25 years of age, son of Keiramsurang Kamei was dragged out from his house and badly assaulted with rifle butt. And many others sustained injury due to lathi charge. They also fired tear gas and stunt bomb into the village damaging properties of the village," a note from the ANSAM stated. It was informed that the injured are undergoing treatments in Imphal. The ANSAM has appealed to all Nagas and well-wishers to help the victims.
"Once again, the Manipur state forces have demonstrated how sadistic it can be, at Khumji village. For how long will the Nagas bear this insult and senseless act of the Manipur IRBs and Police commandoes?," the ANSAM queried. The organization expresses deepest sympathy to the victims and wishes them speedy recovery. "We re-affirmed our demand that the IRBs and commandoes should be immediately withdrawn from Naga areas," the ANSAM added.
Peace talks on Monday
Dimapur, May 28 (NNN): The NSCN-IM and the government of India will hold next round of talks on Monday in the Nagaland capital Kohima. Informing this to Newmai News Network tonight, the NSCN-IM sources said that the May 31 talks will be led by NSCN-IM general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah and many senior members of the organization will take part.
Except for New Delhi's interlocutor in the talks and former Nagaland chief secretary R.S Pandey's name, it is still hard to figure out who are taking part in the Kohima talks from the government of India side. Agenda like the present imbroglio over Thuingaleng Muivah's proposed visit to Manipur will be tabled in Monday's talks. Earlier, the NSCN-IM had proposed New Delhi that the next round of talks will be held in "Naga country". It has been speculated that things will be ascertained about the much hyped proposed visit of Th Muivah to Manipur after Monday's parleys. The NSCN-IM is ever determined that Thuingaleng Muivah will visit Somdal in Ukhrul district. Th Muivah along with senior leaders of the group are still camping at Viswema near Manipur-Nagaland border. Meanwhile, security has been beefed up in and around Kohima.
Womenfolk block convoy of trucks at Noney Four blockade supporters hurt; 360 goods trucks arrive
Imphal, May 28: At least four persons including two women blocking NH-53 at Noney sustained injuries when police and security personnel fired rubber bullets to disperse hundreds of blockade supporters blocking the highway at Lukhambi near Noney today.
Meanwhile, out of 375 goods trucks escorted back from Jiribam by a combined force of 1st Bn Manipur Rifles and 5th IRB, 360 trucks arrived in Imphal today. The incident of blocking the highway took place at about 12.30 pm at Lukhambi near Noney, 67 km (41 miles) from Imphal on NH-53.
When the convoy reached Lukhambi area, the oil tanker met with an accident when blockade supporters started pelting stones at the trucks. Among the four injured persons, two were brought to RIMS Hospital late this evening. They are Ariyang (45), wife of late Ngamthar and Esther Kamei (25), daughter of Daphui Kamei. Ariyang sustained injury in the thigh while Esther sustained injuries in both legs.
As informed by the people who accompanied the injured persons, two other injured persons were treated at a clinic at Noney. One of the injured persons has been identified as K Bobinson (25), son of Kairansimang of Lukhambi village. The identity of the other injured person could not be ascertained.
Reports said that the womenfolk gathered in large number when police detained a villager near the place where the oil tanker met with accident. Detention of the villager added fuel to the anger of the womenfolk. It was only when top police officials intervened and held talks with the village elders, the womenfolk calmed down. The detained man was also released.
Officials of the police led by an IGP rushed to the spot and with security officials there efforted to negotiate with the womenfolk and subside the blocking the road and let the vehicle flow undisturbed. However, they refused which resulted in resorting security forces in firing tear gas and using other mob control devises to disperse them out and clear the route for the truckers.
Reports said that the NH-53 at Lukhambi area was under siege by around 500 women decrying the shooting to injure of the four persons by the rubber bullets. They also forced to back a crane from the Assam Rifles which was about to head to the place where the oil tanker met accident. Unable to cross the block place, the Crane turned back, reports said.
Reports also said that windshields of many trucks were smashed when blockade supporters pelted stones on the trucks coming from Jiribam with security escorts provided by the personnel of the 1st and 5th Manipur Rifles before the firing incident at Lukhambi took place.
The incident took place after 170 trucks have crossed the area and reached Imphal at about 9.30 am. The arrival of around 100 trucks delayed till afternoon as womenfolk totally blocked the road.
Among the freight trucks arrived Imphal 13 tankers with petrol, 19 tankers with diesel and 10 bullet tankers. The rest were ferrying essential items like food and others, police said.
It may be mention here that the Longmai Area Nishaband Society had in a statement yesterday while stating that society has been trying its best to defuse any misunderstanding and tension that may flare up during the economic blockade blamed the counter blockade in the valley areas.
It had stated that blockade is called for both hill and valley of the whole state. It is not targeting to any of the community as such and the society working for defusing any misunderstanding and tension that may flare up out of the economic blockade.
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