Angry locals set houses of Prepak sympathisers on fire

Angry local residents set on fire three houses of sympathisers of banned People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (Prepak) which owned the responsibility for killing of three persons including two girls in Thoubal district of Manipur recently.

Hundreds of local residents of Heirok village gathered at the village playground and burnt down the houses of Th Maipaksana, Th Sunidion and M Itaoba of the same locality, who were reported to be sympathisers of the outfit.

A report from the district said major portions of the houses were destroyed by fired when fire personnel and police forces reached the spot, about 30 kms south-east of Imphal.

Local residents also refused to collect the bodies of the three persons, still lying at the morgue of the Regional Institue of Medical Science and Hospital till the culprits were arrested.

Earlier, the banned People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (Prepak) owned responsibility for the March 24 incident in which three persons including two girls were shot dead in Thoubal district of Manipur.

In a statement, Prepak said “ two girls - I. Nirmala (17) and Th Promila (16)– and a youth identified as Th. Romesh (21) were killed at Heirok village while the victims were celebrating ‘thabal chongba’ dance festival in connection with holi.”

Requesting the people to pardon the outfit for killing the two girls, the statement said Prepak was attempting to eliminate Romesh for colluding with enemies of Prepak and for trying to kill Prepak members.

Unidentified gunmen shot dead two teenage girls, besides seriously injuring two others while they were taking part in a traditional dance Thabal Chongba of the ongoing Yaoshang (Holi) festival at Heirok village in Manipur’s Thoubal district.

On March 22, unidentified gunmen shot dead two tribal ladies in Thoubal Khekman area.

Sources said the incident took place when the girls were participating in a Thabal Chongba at their village ground.

Unidentified gunmen also shot one Thokchom Ramesh, a resident of Heirok Bazar. Ramesh and injured girl Wairokpam Rebika were struggling for their life at Shija Hospital.

Protesting the killings, nearly 10,000 angry Heirok villagers held a protest meeting. Later, they took out a march to submit a memorandum to the Chief Minister.

The villagers resolved not to give shelter to any member of underground outfits.

Clay Khongsai, SP, Thoubal district said, “A manhunt is on to nab the culprits”.

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