Angry villagers burn down Manipur police station

IMPHAL, May 6 – Tension prevails in Senapati district headquarters and Saikul sub-division of the district in Manipur following the murder of a vehicle owner by some unidentified persons and killing of a village youth allegedly by India Reserve Battalion (IRB) personnel attached to Saikul police station.

The vehicle owner identified as Kholli Obhoyuo, of Tumuyon Khullen village of Kangpokpi subdivision in Senapati district was abducted by some unknown persons along with his Mahindra Jeep and his body was found on Sunday.

Sources said miscreants abducted him on Wednesday last from Senapati Bazaar and his dead body was found on Sunday at Khabung village. His vehicle was said to have been sold, sources added.

The police swung into action on receipt of the information of the abduction and recovered the vehicle the same day. It was then already sold by the abductors.

Since the discovery of the body of the vehicle owner, tension has erupted in the adjoining villages.

The Naga Peoples Organization (NPO) held a public meeting at Senapati district headquarters on Monday with a view to ease the prevailing tension.

Tension also brewed up at Saikul subdivision headquarters after a mob torched the Saikul police station as a village youth died in gun firing by IRB personnel at the police station on Sunday night.

Police said the youth identified as 19-year-old Palun Mate studying in class XI was hit by a stray bullet fired by the IRBmen when suspected militants attacked them on Sunday night.

However, the villagers alleged that the IRB personnel fired from the station after some drunken personnel were asked not to use foul language against passersby. They also fired toward a group of women who entered the station to ask the reason behind the firing of guns, the villagers alleged. In protest, villagers burnt down the police station later in the night.

A public meeting convened on Monday reportedly decided to press the government to take out the IRB from the police station and book the IRB personnel involved in the firing. The meeting also resolved to demand compensation for the family of the deceased, reports said.