Newmai News Network
Imphal | June 27
A 14-year-old boy was killed and several others were injured when IRB resorted to blank firing to disperse groups from two communities which clashed in Nungei area under Thoubal district last night.
Tension had been prevailing in the area since April 11 last, when 10 people including children were injured when two unknown motorcycle-borne men opened fire at Nungei Meira Paibi shed, which triggered tension between the two communities.
Joint Action Committee Against Cruel Firing at Nungei Meira Paibi has been demanding punishment to the culprits since the incident.
The deceased has been identified as Md Arif Khan, from Nungei Muslim village who was taken to Shija Hospital here but declared brought death around 1:30 pm today.
Initially, a scuffle broke out between IRB personnel and some youths around 9 pm in Nungei, according to reports.
An IRB post was opened at Nungei following the Nungei Meira Paibi firing incident. Following the scuffle, loudspeakers were reportedly used in Nungei Muslim village allegedly telling every villagers to attack state police and IRB personnel in the area.
Moments after the announcement, the villagers started throwing stones followed by shots towards Nungei Meitei village which continued for hours.
The attack prompted the IRB personnel to open fire in the air to control the situation. Several bullets hit IRB vehicles when they resorted to blank firing, killing one boy.
But the two groups pelted stones at each other this morning when IRB personnel intervened and tried to control the situation by firing tear gas shells and mock bombs. Guns were reportedly used by the villagers in the violent clash.
Additional police forces rushed to the site but they were reportedly halted by villagers in the vicinity for about two hours. They later broke through the obstruction and entered the site and managed to control the situation.
Police said they were monitoring the volatile situation and keeping vigil to thwart any fresh clash in the area.
