According to police, more than 300 villagers of Sangai Yumpham part-II attempted to storm the Thoubal District Police Headquarters at about 11 pm last night demanding unconditional release of a 34-year old youth of the village identified as Md Jamir Khan.
Unable to control the crowd, police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse them, in which over 34 villagers were injured including women.
Further injured villagers were rushed to the Thoubal district hospital.
Earlier, a combined team of 15 AR and 33 AR nabbed Md Jamir Khan from his home, on charge of being a cadre of the North Eastern Minority Front (NEMF), a Muslim based underground group and handed over to the police along with a 9 mm pistol loaded with five live rounds, recovered from him.
In another unrelated incident, police today claimed to have foiled a bid to attack at the residence of a government officer at Patsoi area of Imphal west district last night and arrested three activists of KCP (KK Nganba) group identified as Moirangthem Kennedy (27), Oinam Naobi (24) and Nongmaithem Deben (19).
A China made hand grenade with detonator were recovered from their possession, police said.
Meanwhile, locals of Patsoi area today staged a sit-in protest condemning the incident.
~ NP
