14 held, 4 women hurt in SF’s action
By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Mar 23 : At least four women were hurt in a stand off between womenfolk and security personnel in the wee hours of today near Mayang Langjing Tamang.
A large number of security personnel including both State and Central forces approached the adjoining area of Mayang Langjing Tamang and Kameng Sabal from Iroisemba-Lamdeng Solid Waste Management Plant road and cordoned off Kameng Sabal and Mayang Langjing Tamang in the wee hours today.
The security personnel apprehended 14 village volunteers including three women from Mayang Langjing Tamang and Kameng Sabal on the alleged charges of being members of an underground outfit, sources informed.
As the security forces tried to take away the village volunteers at around 2.30 am, a large number of womenfolk attempted to thwart the arrest by blocking the road.
This resulted in a heated argument between the two sides following which security personnel fired tear gas shells, mock bombs and live bullets to disperse the womenfolk.
In the police action, four womenfolk sustained injuries and two of them were evacuated to RIMS Hospital for treatment. They have been identified as Ch Dasoda (45) of Lamdeng Mayai Leikai and Thounaojam Asha (55) of Lamdeng Awang Leikai, said the sources.
Ch Dasoda sustained injury on the chest while Asha sustained injury on her leg. Both of them were discharged from the hospital at around noon.
Decrying the security forces’ action, protests erupted in different parts of Lamdeng area.
The protesters raised slogans against the security personnel for their action against the womenfolk who have been guarding their villages
They warned that they would launch different modes of intense agitation if the Government fails to take up befitting action against the security personnel.
In the meantime, some womenfolk gathered near Imphal police station demanding unconditional release of all the arrested persons.
They met with the SP Imphal West regarding the incident and placed their demand to release the arrest persons without any condition.
The arrested persons were lodged at Imphal police station on requisition from Lamsang police station till the time of filing this report.