Dimapur, June 2 (MExN): In a reported instance of excesses by security forces, four persons including a father and his two sons were assaulted by personnel of the 22nd Assam Rifles after the latter failed to nab some underground cadres, Tuesday afternoon at Mao Gate, according to a late night report.
Sources from Mao Gate said the incident started when around thirteen AR jawans, five of them in civvies, led by a major came from Tadubi post to apprehend some underground cadres who were collecting so-called “tax” at Mao Gate around 1.30pm. However, after seeing the AR jawans, the cadres fled from the scene and ran to some paddy fields and escaped. The jawans chasing the cadres then turned their ire on villagers working in the fields. Four farmers including a father and his two sons were seriously injured when the jawans in civvies beat up the villagers with fists and gun stocks, sources said. It was alleged that on the way back to the town, the jawans also “accosted, manhandled and threatened” every male they passed.
One of the jawans also spat and stomped on the identity card of a Mao Students’ Union leader when he tried to intervene, sources added. With situation on the verge of going out of control, the jawans were immediately shifted to the police station. The situation was finally brought under control with the intervention of Mao Hoho leaders, the local MLA and elders.
A joint meeting of the deputy commissioner and Superintendent of Police of Senapati district, DIG (police), 22nd Assam Rifles commandant, Mao Hoho, elders and student leaders has been convened Wednesday at 10 am at the police station.
