Indefinite curfew at Pallel

FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

IMPHAL, May 6: The district administration clamped indefinite curfew at Pallel in Chandel district along NH 102 from Tuesday midnight as the situation was fast getting out of control. In an unprovoked firing on the devotees who were performing festivity of the Forest God at Aimol

Saitu hillock not far from the police station at Pallel on Tuesday night one person was killed and five others wounded.

Reports said that the devotees were performing prayers when two persons swooped down and opened fire wounding the person. Gopal Moirangthem was one of the persons seriously wounded. Assam Rifles troopers rushed him to a military hospital. However, he could not be saved. The other injured persons are battling for their lives in hospitals.

One of the injured persons now in hospital is N. Rajmani, an assistant sub inspector attached to the police station. He sustained bleeding injuries in the head. Soon after the firings the devotees stormed the police station charging the personnel with negligene of duty in providing basic protection to the people. They stoned and incinerated the police station. One sentry turret was torched. Police opened fire in the air to disperse the unruly crowd.The crowd also tried to raid some villages from where the gunmen had reportedly come out for opening the unprovoked firings. Additiol police and paramilitary forces were rushed from the nearby areas. As the situation became out of control the district administration clamped the indefinite curfew from midnight. Police say that the situation is tense but under control. Apart from elected members, high officials and community leaders many other sections of people are trying to restore nomality at Pallel where there is a mixed community population.Police have not arrested the gunmen.