Poll violence at UNACCO school injures eight

IMPHAL, November 24: As results of the bye election to the Thongju and Thangmeiband Assembly Constituencies were announced and BJP won both seats, a group clash was reported in Thongju when a group of people tried to stop the rally of winning candidate Th Bishwajit today. At least eight persons were injured in the clash.

The incident occurred around 2:30pm at the UNACCO School in Khongman.

According to eyewitnesses, after collecting his election winning certificate from the DC Porompat Office complex, Th Bishwajit and a large group of his supporters and workers was returning when some individuals pelted stones at the rally injuring some of the supporters.

The incident happened in front the UNACCO School.

It is also alleged that the attackers fired at the rally and vanished inside the school campus resulting in a mob attacking the school and vandalising the school gate and its administrative building.

Four persons were hit by stones and injured while four others received bullet injuries. All eight have been shifted at different hospitals including at the JNIMS and the Advance Hospital, Palace Compound.

Sources also said that BJP senior leader O Joy had visited the injured at the JNIMS.

Speaking to this reporter, Joy said during his visit he was asked by one of the injured to stay a little longer.

He further said that security personnel had during a frisking duty inside the JNIMS campus arrested an armed person while two of his companions who all came in a two wheeler managed to escape.

It is learnt that the three had come to attack those injured at the UNACCO School and the arrested is said to be from Leirik Yengbam leikai, Joy claimed.

According to the Cdo OC Imphal East, the man was arrested by an IRB team and will be handed over to the police soon.