In the aftermath of the firing incident at the residence of additional superintendent of police (Ops) Moirangthem Amit and abduction of the MPS officer including some of his escorts, police commando personnel in five districts of Manipur launched ‘arms down’ strike on Wednesday.
On Tuesday at around 6.45 pm, armed miscreants overpowered commando personnel along Wangkhei Road in Imphal West and assaulted commando personnel, including the MPS officer who is the OC of Commando Unit, Imphal West.
During the incident, about 200 armed miscreants reportedly opened fire at the residence of the MPS officer located at Wangkhei Tokpam Leikai, Imphal East in which four vehicles (4-wheelers) were damaged including some properties of the residence. The armed miscreants abducted at least 3 commando personnel along with Amit though they were rescued from Kwakeithel near Pitambara English School, Imphal West at around 8.30 pm.
The commando personnel were admitted at Raj Medicity, Imphal and later discharged later in the night.
At least two women received minor bullet injuries from the stray bullets.
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Police reported that a case has been registered in connection with the incident at the concerned police station.
On Wednesday morning, a video went viral on social media wherein commando personnel at Commando Complex, Minuthong in Imphal were seen laying down arms. A voice in the video stated that the personnel took the step after the state government and senior police officer failed to take necessary steps in connection with the incident against the armed miscreants.
Media persons were not allowed to enter the commando complex however, DIG N Herojit and superintendent of police, Imphal West, Ksh Shivakanta were seen going inside the commando complex. After about an hour of meeting with the commando personnel the two senior officers were seen leaving the commando complex.
Meanwhile, reports were received that commando personnel of Imphal East, Bishnupur, Kakching, Thoubal also joined the protest.
Later, police commando personnel from across the districts gathered at the Ist MR complex in Imphal.
Since the violence erupted in Manipur, the state commando has been taking a major role while maintaining law and order situation in peripheral areas including border town Moreh. While maintaining law and order in the state some state police including commando, SDPO, Moreh were killed.
Meanwhile, locals Meira Paibis of Wangkhei Tokpam Leikai, Wangkhei Nandeibam Leikai and Wangkhei Thangjam leikai demonstrated a sit-in-protest in connection with the incident.
The protestors demonstrated the protest decrying the firing in congested areas.
One of the protesters, Laishram ongbi Damayenti, told the media that the locals of the area condemned firing in congested areas. She said any issue can be solved on a negotiating table instead of violence.
She appealed not to repeat similar incidents in the near future.
Our Correspondent added that Thoubal and Kakching districts CDO personnel also joined in the arms down protest carried by the commando personnels in the valley area following the attack carried out by armed miscreants at the residence of Imphal East District police Additional SP (ops) M Amit in Wangkhei Tokpam Leikai which destroyed vehicles parked at his house by firing bullets.
