At least five persons suspected to be involved in attacking police during a drug raid on Saturday at Kshetrigao Yumkhaibam Leirak in Imphal have been arrested late Sunday night.
According to police, the Sunday night incident at Kshetrigao, which began around 9.30 pm, was a follow up to the Saturday raid against drug sellers wherein the locals pelted stones against the police. In the process, five were arrested on Sunday for attacking police on duty. And the police said they will continue with the raid.
Chief Minister N Biren Singh wrote on his official Facebook page about the incident stating thus, “Do not take humanity as weakness”.
He also stated that some individuals, suspected to be those involved in pelting stones towards the police during the rain on Friday, were arrested. “Our police are not weak”, the CM stated.
About Sunday night incident, the CM updated that “at around 9.30 pm, a huge team of Imphal east police comprising of Addl SP LO, Addl SP Ops, SDPO porompat, SDPO Lamlai, DSP CDO, Officer in Charge Porompat Police Station, Reserve Inspector, Reserve Sub Inspector and teams of Porompat Police team and CDO teams of Imphal East raided Kshetrigao Yumkhaibam leirak in a follow up action to the stone pelting incident on 20/01/2023”.
The five individuals arrested are Mohammad Helaluddin Khan (42), S/o Mohammad Herun of Yumkhaibam Makha Leikai, Kshetrigao; Md. Washim Khan (20), S/o Md Yusuf of Kshetru Awang Leikai; Md. Sajish Khan (35), S/o Md Bijan of Yumkhaibam Makha Leikai; Md Rafi (34), S/o Md Rahman of Sabal Leikai, Kshetrigao and Abdul Hanal, S/o (L) Abo, Mother- Thoibi of Yumkhaibam Makha Leikai.
A Few shells of tear gas were also fired during the raid, the CM updated.
The five have been booked under FIR No. 10(1)2023 PRT-PS U/S 147/148/149/353/427 IPC.
According to locals of Kshetrigao, the police came around 9.30 pm and fired tear gas creating chaos and fear psychosis among the inhabitants.
They stated that the police arrested innocent individuals while those involved in drugs had already escaped.
Condemning such an act, the locals said it is not right for the police to create such a situation in the calm of the night. At least 10 empty shells of tear gas were found at the spot.
